June E-mini S&Ps (ESM15 -0.10%) this morning are down -0.16% ahead of revised U.S. Q4 GDP and final Mar University of Michigan consumer sentiment that may provide a clue to the timing of a Fed interest rate increase. European stocks are up +0.23% on optimism that the ECB’s QE program will achieve its goals and stave off deflation after ECB President Draghi said the ECB will have no problem meeting its debt-purchase targets. Asian stocks closed mixed: Japan -0.95%, Hong Kong -0.04%, China +0.55%, Taiwan -1.20%, Australia +0.70%, Singapore +0.54%, South Korea -0.18%, India unchanged. Japan’s Nikkei Stock Index tumbled to a 2-week low as slower-than-expected increases in Japan Feb retail sales and consumer prices signal waning momentum in the Japanese economy. Commodity prices are mostly lower. May crude oil (CLK15 -1.69%) is down -1.54% on optimism that air strikes in Yemen by Saudi Arabia, which continued for a second day, won’t pose a threat to crude supplies. May gasoline (RBK15 -1.15%) is down -0.94%. Apr gold (GCJ15 -0.43%) is down -0.53%. May copper (HGK15 -0.73%) is down -0.48% after weekly Shanghai copper inventories rose +4,243 MT to 243,592 MT, a 23-month high. Agriculture prices are mixed. The dollar index (DXY00 +0.09%) is up +0.28%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is down 0.45%. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is up +0.15% as the yen weakened on speculation the BOJ may need to expand stimulus after Japanese consumer prices last month rose at the slowest pace in 11 months. Jun T-note prices (ZNM15 +0.09%) are up +1.5 ticks.
Japan Feb national CPI rose +2.2% y/y, weaker than expectations of +2.3% y/y and the slowest pace of increase in 11 months. Feb national CPI ex-fresh food rose +2.0% y/y, less than expectations of +2.1% y/y. Feb national CPI ex food & energy rose +2.0% y/y, less than expectations of +2.1% y/y.
The Japan Feb jobless rate fell -0.1 to 3.5%, right on expectations. The Feb job-to-applicant ratio rose +0.01 to 1.15, right on expectations and the highest since Mar 1992.
