OVERNIGHT MARKETS AND NEWS
March E-mini S&Ps (ESH15 +0.51%) this morning are up +0.50% led by gains in Apple and McDonald’s in pre-market trading, and European stocks are up +0.23% after Eurozone Jan economic confidence rose to the highest in 6 months. Also, a rally in Greek bank stocks is boosting the overall market after the head of the ECB’s Supervisory Board, Daniele Nouy, said that Greek lenders are “pretty strong” and can survive the current market turbulence. Asian stocks closed mostly lower: Japan -1.06%, Hong Kong -1.07%, China -1.23%, Taiwan -0.88%, Australia +0.30%, Singapore unch, South Korea-0.69%, India +0.41%. China’s Shanghai Stock Index fell to a 1-week low amid speculation that increased regulatory scrutiny of margin loans will reduce leveraged buying of Chinese stocks after the Xinhua News Agency reported that China’s Securities Regulatory Commission will start a new round of checks into the margin-lending businesses of brokerages. Commodity prices are mostly lower. Mar crude oil (CLH15 +0.11%) is down -0.04%. Mar gasoline (RBH15 +0.65%) is up +0.43%. Feb gold (GCG15 -1.29%) is down -1.40% at a 1-1/2 week low. Mar copper (HGH15 -1.86%) is down -2.00%. Agriculture prices are weaker. The dollar index (DXY00 +0.13%) is up +0.10%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is up +0.24%. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is up +0.45%. Mar T-note prices (ZNH15 -0.18%) are down -6 ticks.
Eurozone Jan economic confidence rose +0.6 to 101.2, less than expectations of +0.9 to 101.6 but still the highest in 6 months. The Jan business climate indicator rose +0.01 from an upward revised 0.15 in Dec to 0.16, higher than expectations of +0.12.
Eurozone Dec M3 money supply rose +3.6% y/y, more than expectations of +3.5% y/y and the fastest pace of increase in 2 years. The Dec 3-month avg rose +3.1%, right on expectations.
The German Jan unemployment change fell -9,000, slightly less than expectations of -10,000, The Jan unemployment rate fell -0,a from an upward revised 6.6% in Dec to 6.5%, right on expectations and the lowest since data for a reunified Germany began in 1991.
