OVERNIGHT MARKETS AND NEWS
March E-mini S&Ps (ESH14 +0.33%) this morning are up +0.50% and European stocks are up +1.12% ahead of the results of the ECB’s policy meeting. As expected, the BOE kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 0.50% and maintained its asset purchase target at 375 billion pounds. Asian stocks closed mostly higher: Japan -0.18%, Hong Kong +0.72%, China closed for holiday, Taiwan +0.56%, Australia +1.20%, Singapore +0.95%, South Korea +1.02%, India +0.25%. Emerging-market stocks stabilized and a rally in the Turkish lira has led emerging-market currencies higher ahead of an expected dovish stance by ECB President Draghi at his press conference later today. Commodity prices are mostly higher. Mar crude oil (CLH14 +1.02%) is up +0.54%. Mar gasoline (RBH14 +1.20%) is up +0.62%. Apr gold (GCJ14 +0.49%) is up +0.33%. March copper (HGH14 +0.50%) is up +0.60%. Agriculture and livestock prices are higher. The dollar index (DXY00 +0.09%) is up +0.09%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is down -0.10% after German Dec factory orders unexpectedly declined. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is up +0.03%. March T-note prices (ZNH14 -0.10%) are down -4 ticks.
German Dec factory orders unexpectedly fell -0.5% m/m, weaker than expectations of a +0.2% m/m increase, and on an annual basis Dec factory orders rose +6.0% y/y, a slower pace than expectations of +7.2% y/y.
UK Jan Halifax house prices rose +1.1% m/m and +7.3% y/y, slightly higher than expectations of +1.0% m/m and +7.2% y/y.
U.S. STOCK PREVIEW
Today’s weekly initial unemployment claims report is expected to show a decline of -13,000 to 335,000, reversing most of last week’s increase of +19,000 to 348,000. Weekly continuing claims are expected to show a small increase of +3,000 to 2.994 million following last week’s decline of -16,000 to 2.991 million. Today’s Dec trade deficit is expected to widen slightly to -$36.0 billion from -$34.3 billion in November.
There are 25 of the S&P 500 companies that report earnings today. Notable reports include General Motors (consensus $0.87), Kellogg (0.82), Aetna (1.36), Cummins (1.97), News Corp (0.19), FMC Technologies (0.65), VeriSign (0.60), and Expedia (0.85). Equity conferences during the remainder of this week include Cowen and Company Aerospace Defense & Transportation Conference on Wed-Thu, Wind Power Finance & Investment Summit 2014 on Wed-Thu, UBS Industrials Conference on Thu, and India Auto Expo 2014 on Fri.
