OVERNIGHT MARKETS AND NEWS
September E-mini S&Ps (ESU15 -0.75%) are down -0.65% on concern that a sell-off in Chinese stocks will spread across the globe. European stocks are up +0.87% on optimism that the ECB will be able to contain fallout from the Greek debt crisis after ECB Governing Council member Visco said that the ECB is ready to use all means at its disposal in the Greek financial crisis. European leaders on Tuesday ordered Greece to accept a rescue package by Sunday or face expulsion from the Eurozone. Weakness in European automakers is limiting gains in the overall market after China Jun passenger-vehicle sales dropped for the first time in more than 2 years. Asian stocks closed sharply lower: Japan -3.14%, Hong Kong -5.84%, China -5.90%, Taiwan -2.96%, Australia -2.00%, Singapore -1.67%, South Korea -1.25%, India -1.72%. The rout on Chinese stocks continued today with the Shanghai Composite falling to a fresh 3-1/2 month low as government measures to arrest the slide have so far proven ineffective. The sell-off in Chinese shares has spread throughout Asia with Japan’s Nikkei Stock Index falling to a 1-1/2 month low.
Commodity prices are mixed. Aug crude oil (CLQ15 +0.52%) is up +0.71%, Aug gasoline (RBQ15 +1.78%) is up +1.79%. Metals prices are mixed. Aug gold (GCQ15 +0.32%) is up +0.08%. Sep copper (HGU15 -0.18%) is down -0.10% at a fresh 6-year low. Agricultural prices are weaker.
The dollar index (DXY00 -0.28%) is down -0.180 (-0.19%). EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is up +0.0006 (+0.05%). USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is down -0.89 (-0.73%) at a 1-1/2 month low.
Sep T-note prices (ZNU15 +0.06%) are up +1.5 ticks at a 5-week high as the slump in stocks boosts the safe-haven demand for Treasuries.
Investors trying to get out of Chinese stocks have found that 1,331 companies, or 72% of stocks on mainland exchanges have halted trading as trading curbs make it impossible to sell the stocks. Another 747 companies fell by their 10% limit on Wednesday as buyers were nowhere to be found. That suggests that today’s 5.9% plunge in the Shanghai Composite Index was understated. Actions taken by the government thus far have been unable to stabilize the market as the Shanghai Composite has fallen 32% from its 7-1/3 year high on Jun 12.
