US index futures are higher this morning following on expectations of continuing improvement in the US economic picture. The employment report from ADP shows new job gains of 170,000 in January, slightly lower than the consensus estimate of 172,000. Later this morning the ISM manufacturing index is also expected to post a slight gain, but there are hopes for better. In China, January loan originations totaled less than 1 trillion yuan for the first time in three years. The Europeans are still trying to reach a conclusion on the Greek debt swap deal.
At about 8:15 a.m. ET, Germany’s DAX is up 2.2% at 6,600.97 and France’s CAC 40 is up 1.50%, at 3,348.09. In London, the FTSE 100 is up 1.38%, at 5,759.77.
In Asia, the Hang Seng index closed down -0.28%, at 20,333.40 and the Nikkei index closed up 0.08%, at 8,809.79. The Shanghai exchange closed down -1.07%, at 2,268.08.
Dow futures are up 0.72%, at 12,667.00. The Nasdaq 100 is up 0.52%, at 2,477.00 and the S&P is up 0.67%, at 1,316.90.
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 -0.535% at 78.854.
In commodities, WTI and Brent crude are higher this morning, with WTI up 0.39% at $98.86/barrel and Brent is up 1.07% at $112.17/barrel. Gold is up 0.43% this morning, at $1,747.90/ounce.
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