Morning Wire -- US Stock-Index Futures Holding to Slight Gains

The big story this morning is the euro489 billion ($641 billion) that Europe’s central banks took from the first of two long-term refinance operations (LTRO) offered by the European Central Bank. The stronger-than-expected demand for the loans has buoyed European markets and is keeping the US futures propped up as well. Later this morning the National Association of Realtors will release its report on new home sales, as well as revisions to its sales data going back to 2007. The correction will lower sales estimates, by as much as 13% according to some estimates.

At about 7:45 a.m. ET, Germany’s DAX is up 0.35% at 5,867.74 and France’s CAC 40 is up 0.31%, at 3,064.78. In London, the FTSE 100 is up 0.18%, at 5,429.54.

In Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index is up 1.86%, at 18,416.40. The Nikkei index is up 1.48%, at 8,459.98, and the Shanghai index is down -1.12%, at 2,191.15.

Dow futures are up 0.24%, at 12,060.00. The Nasdaq 100 is up 0.11%, at 2,269.25 and the S&P is up 0.13%, at 1,237.60.

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

In commodities, both WTI and Brent crude are higher this morning, with WTI at $97.70/barrel and Brent at $107.24/barrel. Gold is up 0.53%, at $1,626.20.