New Zealand Trade Balance (MoM) above expectations ($-26.5B) in December: Actual ($-159M)

The US stocks market closed down after a choppy day that started with gains amid better than expected corporate earnings such as Apple $AAPL, Yahoo $YHOO, Boeing $BA; however the FOMC statement reaffirmed its intention to remain 'patient' on hiking rates but it's "likely to occur sooner than currently anticipated".