Morning Wire -- US Stock-Index Futures Higher

US index futures are higher this morning as investors await still more data on the US economy. Yesterday’s report on GDP growth will be followed today by the ISM manufacturing data and a report on new jobless claims in the US. In Europe, indexes are higher on decent economic news and the afterglow of yesterday’s $712 billion cash infusion in the continent’s banks. In Asia, markets closed lower following weak reports on China manufacturing and a rising Japanese yen.

At about 8:15 a.m. ET, Germany’s DAX is up 0.63% at 6,899.34 and France’s CAC 40 is up 0.70%, at 3,476.67. In London, the FTSE 100 is up 0.55%, at 5,903.93.

In Asia, the Hang Seng index closed down -1.35%, at 21,388.00 and the Nikkei index closed down -0.16%, at 9,707.37. The Shanghai exchange closed down -0.10%, at 2,426.11.

Dow futures are up 0.19%, at 12,961.00. The Nasdaq is up 0.32%, at 2,631.50 and the S&P is up 0.18%, at 1,366.80.

In the currency markets, the US dollar is weaker against the British pound and the Japanese yen, but stronger against the euro. The US dollar index is down -0.01% at 78.811.

In commodities, WTI and Brent crude are higher this morning, with WTI up 0.11% at $107.19/barrel and Brent is up 0.53% at $123.31/barrel. Gold is up 0.14% this morning, at $1,713.70/ounce.

Paul Ausick