Housing Starts data showed a better-than-expected rise of 9.3% in November to an annual rate of 685,000 units. Permits rose by 5.7% to a 681,000 unit rate. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged back above its 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages at 11,833 and 11,936 with a day’s high at 12,117.13. The NASDAQ rebounded from 2566.87 to 2604.52 lagging its 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages at 2617 and 2663.

Asian stocks were slightly higher on Tuesday with the Nikkei 225 ending the day at 8,336 – up 0.49%, and the Hang Seng ending the day at 18,080 – up 0.06%. European stocks surged as euro zone concerns ebb. The FTSE 100 ending the day at 5,420 – up 1.02%; the DAX ending the day at 5,847 – up 3.11%; and the CAC 40 ending the day at 3,055 – up 2.73%. The flight to quality eased and the yield on the 10-Year US Treasury note rose from 1.816 percent to 1.923.

Gold rebounded from $1594.1 the Troy ounce to $1620.8 versus its 200-day simple moving average at $1617.1. Crude oil rebounded from $94.14 to $97.45 per barrel back above its 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages at $94.88 and $95.79. The euro versus the dollar rebounded from 1.2996 to 1.3131 helping the turnaround for gold, crude oil and US stocks. The euro continues to stay above its January 2011 low at 1.2878.

Energy

In afternoon trading: Shares of Cobalt International Energy (CIE) are up about 38%. Shares of Canadian Solar (CSIQ) are up about 35%. Shares of Yingli Green Energy (YGE) are up about 16%. Shares of Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GUKYF) are up about 12%. Shares of Penn Virginia (PVA) are up about 11%. Shares of Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG) are up about 11%. Shares of Basic Energy Services (BAS) are up about 10.5%. Shares of RPC Inc. (RES) are up about 10.5%.

Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) was trading at $67.65 at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, up 4.11% on the day – down 0.88% year-to-date.

Materials

In afternoon trading: Shares of OMNOVA Solutions (OMN) are up about 17%. Shares of Golden Minerals (AUMN) are up about 14.25%. Shares of STR Holdings (STRI) are up about 10.25%. Shares of Ferro Corp. (FOE) are up about 10%. Shares of Mag Silver (MVG) are up about 9.75%. Shares of Haynes International (HAYN) are up about 9%. Shares of US Energy (USEG) are up about 9%.

The Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB) was trading at $33.21 at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, up 3.94% on the day – down 13.54% year-to-date.

Industrials

As expected, Lockheed Martin (LMT) won a contract to supply 42 stealth F-35 jets to Japan for an initial $5.33B, beating Boeing (BA) and the Eurofighter Typhoon. Navistar International (NAV) beat estimates by 29 cents, while missing revenue by $120M. SeaCube Container Leasing (BOX) is a new Buy at Citigroup. Robert Half International (RHI) and Manpower (MAN) are both reduced to Neutral from Buy at Bank of America-Merrill Lynch. Owens Corning (OC) is reduced to Outperform from Top Pick at RBC Capital. In afternoon trading: Shares of American Semiconductor (AMSC) are up about 12%. Shares of USG Corp. (USG) are up about 11.5%. Shares of II VI Inc. (IIVI) are up about 11.25%. Shares of Acacia Research (ACTG) are up about 10.25%. Shares of KBR Inc. (KBR) are up about 10%.

The Industrial Select Sector SPDR (XLI) was trading at $33.44 at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, up 3.42% on the day – down 4.12% year-to-date.

Consumer Discretionary

Collins Stewart launches new Neutrals on Victoria’s Secret owner Limited Brands (LTD), Urban Outfitters (URBN), Coach (COH), Tiffany & Co (TIF), Dollar Tree (DLTR), Family Dollar (FDO), Home Depot (HD), and Lowe’s (LOW). It begins Buy rated coverage on Ross Stores (ROST), TJX Cos (TJX), Aaron’s Inc (AAN), Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY), Big Lots (BIG), Lumber Liquidators (LL), Rent-A-Center (RCII), and Williams-Sonoma (WSM). Lastly, Gap Inc (GPS) gets started at a Sell. Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) is covered with an Outperform by Sanford Bernstein. In afternoon trading: Home builder stocks are rallying: Shares of Hovnanian Enterprises (HOV) are up about 17.25%. Shares of Beazer Homes (BZH) are up about 14.5%. Shares of PulteGroup (PHM) are up about 10%. Shares of KB Home (KBH) are up about 9.5%. Shares of Meritage Homes (MTH) are up about 9.25%. Shares of Standard Pacific (SPF) are up about 8.5%. Shares of Dangdang Inc. (DANG) are up about 12%. Shares of Skullcandy (SKUL) are up about 10.5%.

The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) was trading at $38.51 at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, up 2.75% on the day – up 2.94% year-to-date.

Consumer Staples

ConAgra Foods (CAG) beat estimates by 4 cents and revenue by $70M. General Mills (GIS) missed estimates by 3 cents, while beating revenue by $20M. The company sees FY12 double-digit growth in sales and reaffirms FY12 EPS guidance of $2.59-$2.61. Sanderson Farms (SAFM) missed estimates by 24 cents, while beating revenue by $25M. Beam Inc (BEAM) is a new Neutral at JPMorgan. CVS Caremark (CVS) is initiated with an Outperform at Macquarie. Danone (DANOY) is downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse. Winn-Dixie Stores (WINN) gets cut to Hold from Buy at Jefferies. In afternoon trading: Shares of Prestige Brand Holdings (PBH) are up about 20.5%. Shares of CVS Caremark are up about 8.75%.

The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) was trading at $32.01 at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, up 2.07% on the day – up 9.21% year-to-date.

Healthcare

AstraZeneca (AZN) will take a Q4 pretax charge of $381.5M after two disappointing drug studies. The company confirmed its prior guidance that full-year core EPS will be in the range of $7.20-7.40, but said it’s now likely to be in the lower half of this range. Baxter International (BAX) gets moved to Outperform from Top Pick at RBC Capital. In afternoon trading: Shares of Progenics Pharmaceuticals (PGNX) are up about 33%. Shares of Biostar Pharmaceuticals (BSPM) are up about 22.5%. Shares of GTx Inc. (GTXI) are up about 16.5%. Shares of Metabolix Inc. (MBLX) are up about 11%. Shares of Biosante Pharmaceuticals (BPAX) are up about 10.5%.

The Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) was trading at $34.11 at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, up 2.10% on the day – up 8.29% year-to-date.

Financials

Google (GOOG) and KKR (KKR) announced today a joint investment in a California solar-power project, becoming majority owners of four solar farms and underscoring investor interest in the field even as some government incentives are phased out. Bank of America (BAC) shares dropped to a $4 handle for the first time since the week of March 6, 2009 when American stocks overall put in their epic bear market bottom. Charles Schwab Corp (SCHW) and TD Ameritrade Holding (AMTD) are each new Neutrals at Nomura with respective price objectives of $12 and $17. E*TRADE Financial (ETFC) is begun with a Buy and $10 price target. Douglas Emmett Inc (DEI) is initiated with a Buy and $22 target at KeyBanc Capital. KeyBanc covers Kilroy Realty (KRC) at a Hold as the stock appears fairly valued at current levels. Mid-America Apartment Communities (MAA) is moved to Outperform from Market Perform at Keefe Bruyette. Keefe Bruyette reduces ratings on DCT Industrial Trust (DCT), Hospitality Properties (HPT), and First Potomac Realty (FPO), all now Market Perform from Outperform. Manulife Financial (MFC) is moved to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC Capital. In afternoon trading: Shares of Jefferies Group (JEF) are up about 24%. Shares of Cedar Realty Trust (CDR) are up about 16%.

The Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) was trading at $12.72 at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, up 3.79% on the day – down 20.25% year-to-date.

Information Technology

The U.S. International Trade Commission ruled HTC is violating Apple’s (AAPL) patents, and has ordered a U.S. import ban on certain products to go into effect in April. Red Hat (RHT) beat estimates by 2 cents, with revenue in-line with estimates. The company’s deferred revenue balance reached $819.6M – up 20% Y/Y but less than 1% Q/Q. The company also guides for FQ4 revenue of $289M-$292M and EPS of $0.26-$0.27 (the latter meshes well with a consensus of $0.26, but the former is below a consensus of $292.5M). Google (GOOG) and KKR (KKR) announced today a joint investment in a California solar-power project, becoming majority owners of four solar farms and underscoring investor interest in the field even as some government incentives are phased out. Apple (AAPL) is buying Israel’s Anobit, a maker of flash storage technology, for $500M, and plans to open an R&D center in Israel, its first outside the U.S. Credit Suisse has new Neutrals on Buenos Aires-based MercadoLibre (MELI) and HomeAway Inc (AWAY). It assigns an Outperform on online restaurant reservation outfit OpenTable (OPEN). Zynga (ZNGA) is initiated at an Outperform with Wedbush. F5 Networks (FFIV) gets an Outperform-from-Perform increase at Oppenheimer with a price objective of $125. KLA-Tencor (KLAC) is lifted to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan. Novellus (NVLS) is taken to Neutral from Overweight at JPMorgan. In afternoon trading: Shares of Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) are up about 13%. Shares of Ciena (CIEN) are up about 12.5%. Shares of JA Solar Holdings (JASO) are up about 12.25%. Shares of Motricity (MOTR) are DOWN about 11%.

The Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK) was trading at $25.44 at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, up 2.81% on the day – up 0.97% year-to-date.

Telecommunications Services

AT&T (T) ended its bid to acquire T-Mobile (DTEGY), taking a $4B Q4 charge for “break-up considerations.” The two plan to enter a “mutually beneficial roaming agreement.” Sprint (S), which would have been relegated to a junior league carrier if the deal went through, called AT&T’s move “the right decision for consumers, competition and innovation in the wireless industry.” AT&T Inc (T) is now Neutral from Overweight at JP Morgan. In afternoon trading: Shares of TerreStar (TSTRQ) are down about 62.5%. Shares of Towersteam (TWER) are up about 12.25%. Shares of Sprint Nextel (S) are up about 8.75%. Shares of magicJack VocalTec (CALL) are up about 8.25%. Shares of Leap Wireless (LEAP) are up about 7.75%.

The NASDAQ Telecommunications Index (IXTC) was trading at $196.86 at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, up 3.79% on the day – down 12.65% year-to-date.

Utilities

Sempra Energy (SRE) expects to meet or exceed the high end of its 2011 EPS guidance range of $4-$4.30 ($4.21 Street consensus). OGE Energy (OGE) is lifted to Buy from Hold at Jefferies. In afternoon trading: Shares of NRG Energy (NRG) are up about 6%. Heavily Active Stocks: Shares of Duke Energy (DUK) are up about 2%. Shares of AES Corp (AES) are up about 1.8%. Shares of Genon Energy (GEN) are up about 0.4%. Shares of Exelon (EXC) are up about 0.8%.

The Utilities Select Sector SPDR (XLU) was trading at $35.01 at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, up 2.13% on the day – up 11.71% year-to-date.

STOCKS: CIE, CSIQ, YGE, GUKYF, PVA, OSG, BAS, RES, OMN, AUMN, STRI, FOE, MVG, HAYN, USEG, LMT, BA, NAV, BOX, RHI, MAN, OC, AMSC, USG, IIVI, ACTG, KBR, LTD, URBN, COH, TIF, DLTR, FDO, HD, LOW, ROST, TJX, AAN, BBBY, BIG, LL, RCII, WSM, GPS, CMG, HOV, BZH, PHM, KBH, MTH, SPF, DANG, SKUL, CAG, GIS, SAFM, BEAM, CVS, DANOY, WINN, PBH, AZN, BAX, PGNX, BSPM, GTXI, MBLX, BPAX, GOOG, KKR, BAC, SCHW, AMTD, ETFC, DEI, KRC, MAA, DCT, HPT, FPO, MFC, JEF, CDR, AAPL, RHT, AAPL, MELI, AWAY, OPEN, ZNGA, FFIV, KLAC, NVLS, ALU, CIEN, JASO, MOTR, T, DTEGY, S, TSTRQ, TWER, CALL, LEAP, SRE, OGE, NRG, DUK, AES, GEN, EXC