OVERNIGHT MARKETS AND NEWS
December E-mini S&Ps (ESZ15 +0.49%) are up +0.56% and European stocks are up +1.22% before an expected expansion of ECB stimulus and before Fed Chair Yellen gives another speech later today. Gains in European automakers led the overall market higher as a -0.65% slide in EUR/USD (^EURUSD) to a 7-1/2 month low gives exporters a boost. On the negative side, mining stocks fell with Anglo American Plc at a 16-year low and BHP Billiton Ltd. near a 7-year low, as metals prices retreated with the price of gold (GCG16 -0.36%) down -0.40% to a new 5-3/4 year low. Asian stocks settled mixed: Japan +0.01%, Hong Kong -0.28%, China +1.35%, Taiwan -0.02%, Australia -0.58%, Singapore +0.01%, South Korea -0.78%, India -0.89%. China’s Shanghai Composite moved higher for a fourth day on speculation that China will soon expand its stimulus measures.
The dollar index (DXY00 +0.42%) is up +0.40%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is down -0.65% at a 7-1/2 month low on anticipation the ECB will expand QE later today. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is up +0.19%.
Mar T-note prices (ZNH16 -0.07%) are down -5.5 ticks.
Eurozone Oct retail sales fell -0.1% m/m and rose +2.5% y/y, weaker than expectations of +0.2% m/m and +2.6% y/y.
U.S. STOCK PREVIEW
Key U.S. news today includes: (1) Nov Challenger job cuts (Oct -1.3% y/y), (2) weekly initial unemployment claims (expected +8,000 to 268,000, previous -12,000 to 260,000) and continuing claims (expected -17,000 to 2.190 million, previous +34,000 to 2.207 million), (3) final-Nov Markit services PMI (expected unch at 56.5, prelim-Nov +1.7 to 56.5) (4) Fed Chair Janet Yellen addresses the congressional Joint Economic Committee to discuss the economic outlook, (5) Oct factory orders (expected +1.4% and +0.2% ex transportation, Sep -1.0% and -0.6% ex transportation), (6) Nov non-manufacturing ISM (expected -1.1 to 58.0, Oct +2.2 to 59.1), and (7) Fed Vice Chair Stanley Fischer’s keynote speech at a conference hosted by the Cleveland Fed and the Treasury’s Office of Financial Research.
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