NEW YORK, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Wall Street ended mixed Tuesday with softened economic data and many taking profits from the earlier rally.

  The Dow Jones industrial average ended down 24.96, or 0.24 percent, at 10,425.04.

  The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index ended up 3.40, or 0.17 percent, at 2,009.88, while the Standard and Poor's 500 stock index ended up 0.16, or 0.01 percent, at 1,109.64. Volume on the Big Board was 978 million shares.

  The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index for December fell to 91.3 -- close to expected -- from a revised 92.5 in November. The present situation index, a gauge of attitudes on current economic conditions, dropped sharply to 73.9, from a revised 81.0 the prior month, the Wall Street Journal reported.

  Housing sales activity cooled last month with existing-home sales dropping 4.6 percent from October to a 6.06 million unit annual rate, the National Association of Realtors said.

  The Chicago purchasing managers' index for December dropped to 59.2 from 64.1 in November, missing expectations of 62.2.

  The euro traded at $1.2552 Tuesday, compared to $1.2434 from Monday afternoon in New York. The dollar was trading at 107.035 compared to the yen, from 106.91 on Monday.

  In Europe, London's FTSE 100 rose 12.90, or 0.29 percent, to 4,470.40, and in Asia Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average climbed 176.02, or 1.7 percent, to 10,676.64 in a half-day session.

Parmalat founder ordered to stay in jail

  MILAN, Italy, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- An Italian judge Tuesday ordered Parmalat's founder to stay in jail amid accusations he looted the firm, the Wall Street Journal reported.

  Judge Guido Salvini rejected a defense request that Parmalat founder Calisto Tanzi be granted house arrest until he's indicted.

  Parmalat filed for bankruptcy protection after it was revealed that a Cayman Islands subsidiary, Bonlat, didn't have some $4.9 billion in a Bank of America account.

  Prosecutors claimed a dramatic break Monday, as Tanzi admitted siphoning off $624 million, according to two sources.

  Meanwhile, the scandal is having global repercussions. The Australian newspaper said Parmalat Australia's accounts indicate huge loans exist between the Australian operation and the Italan parent company. Last calendar year Parmalat Australia owed Parmalat in Italy more than $217 million, up from $189 million the year before.

  In the U.S., securities regulators are suing Parmalat for "grossly overstating its assets" to U.S. investors, who hold some $1.5 billion in bonds and notes.

  Parmalat, Italy's eighth-largest company, reported sales of $9.4 billion in 2002. It employs 36,000 people worldwide, including 4,600 in the U.S. and Canada. Its Chicago bakery is the third-largest cookie producer in the U.S.

California bull housing market to continue

  SACRAMENTO, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- California homebuilders are predicting another banner year in 2004 with nearly 193,000 housing starts expected and demand for plenty more.

  The California Building Industry Association said Tuesday that low interest rates and consistent demand mean housing supplies will remain tight and expensive even with the largest number of starts since 1989.

  Association officials said in their year-end report increasing housing activity has been limited primarily by environmental rules and other government regulations, which translates into higher prices since supply is unable to keep pace with demand.

  The forecast for 2005 isn't so rosy, as an expected hike in interest rates could cut starts to 182,000 homes and apartments.

Nikkei shows first 12-month gain in years

  TOKYO, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Japan's main stock market has ended 2003 with its first 12-month gain in four years.

  After a short session on Tuesday, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index ended up 1.7 percent at 10,676.64, boosted by last-minute euphoria on Wall Street overnight, the BBC said.

  Analysts said the mood was buoyed by recent economic data which suggest that 2004 could show a modest return to form for the much-battered Japanese economy.

  The Nikkei has risen 24 percent since the start of this year.

Russian oil giant owes $3.3 billion

  MOSCOW, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Embattled Russian oil giant Yukos owes $3.3 billion in back taxes and fines, the Russian tax ministry said Tuesday.

  The ministry accused the firm of evading taxes by setting up a web of affiliated firms, the BBC said. Yukos' largest shareholder and former boss, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, has been in jail on tax fraud charges since being arrested in October.

  Critics say the charges are an attempt by the Russian government to keep Khodorkovsky out of politics.

  President Vladimir Putin comes up for re-election in March 2004, and Khodorkovsky was thought to have been considering a challenge.

  In late December, a Moscow court ruled Khodorkovsky would have to stay in jail until March 25.