David Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices , noted that housing construction is running well below historical levels. Another S&P index of the nation's 20 largest housing markets showed a 6.4 percent gain, higher than analysts had expected.
French maritime authorities state he called and said he would be delaying his return home due to thick fog. "By early afternoon, fears were growing for his safety, after friends and family failed to contact him, and a mayday alert was launched", the article reads, noting that he was officially declared "missing at sea".