Morning Wire -- US Stock-Index Futures Stronger

US index futures are up this morning as markets respond positively to the near-certain completion of the Greek debt swap deal. In the US today, the report on new jobless claims is expected to show a slight rise, from 351,000 last month to 355,000. The layoff report from Challenger Gray & Christmas showed a drop of 3.3% in February, but layoffs are up 18% year-over-year so far in 2012. In Europe, the European Central Bank held interest rates a current levels (more coverage here) and Germany reported better-than-expected industrial output this morning (more coverage here). In Asia, markets are up as the news from Europe ends a three-day slide.

At about 8:00 a.m. ET, Germany’s DAX is up 2.07% at 6,808.99 and France’s CAC 40 is up 1.96%, at 3,458.82. In London, the FTSE 100 is up 1.26%, at 5,864.64.

In Asia, the Hang Seng index closed up 1.32%, at 20,900.70 and the Nikkei index closed up 2.01%, at 9,768.96. The Shanghai exchange closed up 1.06%, at 2,420.28.

Dow futures are up 0.69%, at 12,929.00. The Nasdaq is up 0.64%, at 2,625.50 and the S&P is up 0.79%, at 1,363.50.

In the currency markets, the US dollar is weaker against the euro and the British pound, and stronger versus the Japanese yen. The US dollar index is down -0.51% at 79.307.

In commodities, WTI and Brent crude are higher this morning, with WTI up 0.55% at $106.74/barrel and Brent is up 0.81% at $125.12/barrel. We have more coverage on Brent pricing here. Gold is up 0.83% this morning, at $1,697.90/ounce.

Paul Ausick