forecast. we'll have more from alan joyce later in the program. certainly, a strong number at quantas, helping lift airline stocks pretty much around the region, charles. okay. let's have a look at wall street on wednesday. we did see a rebound there for u.s. stocks. healthy figures on new-home construction and strong earnings report from deer and comcast helped to encourage investors a loss of about half a percent for the dow. nasdaq off by .75 and the broader s&p -- wait a minute. it is up for the dow. up for the nasdaq and up for the s&p 500. up by two-thirds of a percent. on thursday, markets look set for a flat open. here's where u.s. futures stand in the premarket action up just very slightly with the s&p 500, the broader market a little bit