OVERNIGHT MARKETS AND NEWS
December E-mini S&Ps (ESZ15 +0.43%) are up +0.29% and European stocks are up +0.85% on better-than-expected company quarterly earnings offset the possibility the Fed may raise interest rates next month. Facebook (FB) is up over 4% in pre-market trading after it reported stronger-than-expected Q3 earnings and Societe Generale SA and Adidas AG are both up nearly 5% after they reported better-than-expected earnings results. Comments on Wednesday from Fed Chair Yellen signaled the Fed may still yet raise interest rates this month, although European government bonds rallied today as German bunds recovered from a 2-week low after weaker-than-expected economic data on Eurozone Sep retail sales and German Sep factory orders boosted speculation the ECB may need to expand QE. As expected, the BOE kept its benchmark interest rate at 0.50% and maintained its asset purchase target at 375 billion pounds following today’s policy meeting. Asian stocks settled mixed: Japan +1.00%, Hong Kong-0.01%, China +1.83%, Taiwan -0.08%, Australia -0.94%, Singapore -0.55%, South Korea -0.21%, India -0.94%. China’s Shanghai Composite rose to a 2-1/2 month high as government measures to limit short selling and to direct state funds to stock purchases have boosted Chinese stocks.
The dollar index (DXY00 unch) is down -0.02%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is up +0.02%. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is up % at a 2-1/4 month high as the rally in stocks reduces the safe-haven demand for the yen.
Dec T-note prices (ZNZ15 unch) are up +2.5 ticks.
The European Commission raised its 2015 Eurozone GDP estimate to 1.6% from a previous estimate of 1.5%, but cut its 2016 Eurozone GDP estimate to 1.8% from a 1.9% estimate in May.
Eurozone Sep retail sales unexpectedly fell -0.1% m/m, weaker than expectations of +0.2% m/m and the first decline in 6 months. On an annual basis, Sep retail sales rose +2.9% y/y, weaker than expectations of +3.0% y/y.
German Sep factory orders unexpectedly fell -1.7% m/m, weaker than expectations of +1.0% m/m and the third straight monthly decline. On an annual basis, Sep factory orders fell -1.0% y/y, weaker than expectations of +1.9% y/y.
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