OVERNIGHT MARKETS AND NEWS
December E-mini S&Ps (ESZ14 -0.33%) this morning are down -0.25% and European stocks are down -1.22% after a gauge of European manufacturing activity weakened more than expected to its slowest pace in 14 months. Geopolitical concerns in the Middle East are another negative for stocks as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain joined the U.S. in a series of airstrikes against Islamic State positions in Syria along the Iraqi border. Meanwhile, Israel shot down a Syrian fighter jet after it penetrated Israeli airspace over the Golan Heights. Asian stocks closed mixed: Japan closed for holiday, Hong Kong -0.49%, China +0.86%, Taiwan -0.54%, Australia +0.98%, Singapore +0.05%, South Korea -0.64%, India -1.58%. Chinese stocks rallied and closed higher after a gauge of China’s manufacturing activity unexpectedly increased. Commodity prices are mostly higher. Nov crude oil (CLX14 +0.78%) is up +0.47%. Nov gasoline (RBX14 +0.95%) is up +0.37%. Dec gold (GCZ14 +1.27%) is up +0.73%. Dec copper (HGZ14 +0.31%) is up +0.26%. Agriculture and livestock prices are mostly lower. The dollar index (DXY00 -0.37%) is down -0.35%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is up +0.29%. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is down -0.35%. Dec T-note prices (ZNZ14 +0.11%) are up +4 ticks.
The Eurozone Sep Markit manufacturing PMI fell -0.2 to 50.5, a bigger drop than expectations of -0.1 to 50.6 and the slowest pace of expansion in 14 months.
The Eurozone Sep Markit composite PMI fell -0.2 to 52.3, weaker than expectations of no change at 52.5 and the slowest pace of expansion in 9 months.
The German Sep Markit/BME manufacturing PMI fell -1.1 to 50.3 a bigger decline than expectations of -0.2 to 51.2 and the slowest pace of expansion in 15 months.
The China Sep HSBC manufacturing PMI unexpectedly rose +0.3 to 50.5, better than expectations of -0.2 to 50.0.
