Wall St prices expected to open higher

Share prices are expected to open higher as a surprise dip in weekly jobless claims and a strong rise in October consumer spending set the tone for a resumption in the rally in equities, which came to a halt yesterday as investors took the opportunity to lock in gains, dealers said.

Investors will also be looking ahead to the figure for October durable goods, the University of Michigan's November consumer sentiment survey, the Chicago Purchasing Manager's index for November and the US Federal Reserve beige book survey of current economic conditions to provide further upward momentum.