Morning Wire -- US Stock-Index Futures Slightly Higher

US index futures are up modestly this morning as investors wait to hear the latest numbers on US non-farm payrolls and the January headline unemployment number. Estimates for new jobs are relatively low, ranging from about 120,000 to 125,000. The unemployment rate is expected to be flat at best, or to rise one tick to 8.6%. In Europe, the official PMI numbers have risen above 50, indicating some confidence in the continent’s economy has returned. In Asia, markets are mixed following a blizzard of earnings reports. Asian markets are also watching the US unemployment data very closely this morning

At about 8:15 a.m. ET, Germany’s DAX is up 0.18% at 6,667.45 and France’s CAC 40 is up 0.20%, at 3,383.34. In London, the FTSE 100 is up 0.42%, at 5,820.40.

In Asia, the Hang Seng index closed up 0.08%, at 20,757 and the Nikkei index closed down -0.51%, at 8,831.93. The Shanghai exchange closed up 0.77%, at 2,330.41.

Dow futures are up 0.06%, at 12,674.00. The Nasdaq 100 is up 0.27%, at 2,498.25 and the S&P is up 0.04%, at 1,323.20.

In the currency markets, the US dollar is weaker against the British pound and the euro, and stronger against the Japanese yen. The US dollar index is up 0.331% at 79.123.

In commodities, WTI and Brent crude are mixed this morning, with WTI down -0.24% at $96.13/barrel and Brent is up 0.29% at $112.39/barrel. Gold is down -0.05% this morning, at $1,758.40/ounce.

Paul Ausick