Morning Wire — US Futures Up on Expectations of Modest CPI Gain

US stock futures are up again this morning, as investors await the latest consumer price index report at 8:30 a.m. ET. Analysts are expecting a rise of 0.1% in the CPI, and a similar rise in core inflation. Equity options and futures expire today, and that will encourage some trading as well. The Shanghai index jumped about 2% today on rumors that the Chinese government will once again cut capital reserve requirements for the country’s largest banks.

At about 7:30 a.m. ET, Germany’s DAX is down -0.40% at 5,707.56 and France’s CAC 40 is down -0.20%, at 2,992.76. In London, the FTSE 100 is up 0.45%, at 5,425.19.

In Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index is up 1.43%, at 18,285.40. The Nikkei index is up 0.29%, at 8,401.72, and the Shanghai index is up 2.01%, at 2,224.84.

Dow futures are up 0.36%, at 11,865.00. The Nasdaq 100 is up 0.48%, at 2,234.00 and the S&P is up 0.54%, at 1,218.30.

In the currency markets, the US dollar is weaker against the euro and the British pound, and up slightly against the Japanese yen.

In commodities, both WTI and Brent crude are higher this morning, with WTI at $94.36/barrel and Brent at $104.16/barrel. Gold is up 1.2%, at $1,596.00.