US index futures are higher this morning as European and Asian markets are following US markets Fed rally yesterday with one of their own. The news that US interest rates would remain near zero until late 2014 has renewed hopes for equities. A report that Greek bondholders have reduced their interest rate demand for new Greek debt to 3.75% is also helping markets move up. The Hong Kong exchange re-opened after the long lunar new year holiday, but Shanghai will be closed for the rest of this week.
At about 8:30 a.m. ET, Germany’s DAX is up 1.53% at 6,520.14 and France’s CAC 40 is up 1.18%, at 3,351.65. In London, the FTSE 100 is up 1.16%, at 5,789.60.
In Asia, the Hang Seng index closed up 1.63%, at 20,439.10 and the Nikkei index closed down -0.39%, at 8,849.47.
Dow futures are up 0.43%, at 12,743.00. The Nasdaq 100 is up 0.20%, at 2,465.50 and the S&P is up 0.35%, at 1,324.80.
In the currency markets, the US dollar is weaker against the British pound, the euro and the Japanese yen. The US dollar index is down -0.326% at 79.217.
In commodities, WTI and Brent crude are higher this morning, with WTI up 1.41% at $100.80/barrel and Brent is up 1.62% at $111.59/barrel. Gold is up 0.87% this morning, at $1,717.90/ounce.
Paul Ausick
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