Morning Wire — US Stock-Index Futures Higher

US index futures are higher this morning as investors wait for the latest reading on the US consumer price index and the consumer confidence index. Core inflation is expected to rise 0.2%, in-line with the producer price index report from earlier this week. Consumer confidence is also expected to rise slightly. In Europe, markets are higher following the generally upbeat news that came out yesterday on the US economy. In Asia, low prices attracted buyers in Shanghai, and in Japan, the falling yen keeps buying interest up as well.

At about 8:00 a.m. ET, Germany’s DAX is up 0.65% at 7,190.93 and France’s CAC 40 is up 0.28%, at 3,590.25. In London, the FTSE 100 is up 0.47%, at 5,968.90.

In Asia, the Hang Seng index closed down -0.17%, at 21,317.80 and the Nikkei index closed up 0.06%, at 10,129.80. The Shanghai exchange closed up 1.30%, at 2,404.74.

Dow futures are up 0.20%, at 13,199.00. The Nasdaq is up 0.25%, at 2,718.50 and the S&P is up 0.22%, at 1,399.10.

In the currency markets, the US dollar is slightly up against the euro and the Japanese yen, and down versus the British pound. The US dollar index is up 0.20% at 80.307.

In commodities, WTI and Brent crude are higher this morning, with WTI up 0.38% at $105.51/barrel and Brent is up 0.51% at $123.23/barrel. Gold is down -0.74% this morning, at $1,647.20/ounce.

Paul Ausick