OVERNIGHT MARKETS AND NEWS
June E-mini S&Ps (ESM15 +0.51%) this morning are up +0.46% and European stocks are up +1.20% on the prospects for China to expand its stimulus measures after China’s central bank said the government can do more to support growth. Another positive for European stocks was the larger-than-expected increase in Eurozone Mar economic confidence to the highest in 3-1/2 years. Asian stocks closed mostly higher: Japan +0.65%, Hong Kong +1.51%, China +2.93%, Taiwan +0.19%, Australia -1.25%, Singapore +0.12%, South Korea +0.22%, India +1.88%. China’s Shanghai Index surged nearly 3% to a 7-year high after the head of the PBOC, Zhou Xiaochuan, said that China’s growth rate has tumbled “a bit” too much, and that policy makers have room to act with both interest rates and “quantitative” measures, which bolstered speculation that China will boost stimulus measures. Commodity prices are mostly lower. May crude oil (CLK15 -1.35%) is down -2.07% on speculation a potential nuclear deal between Iran and Western nations may end sanctions against Iran and lead to increased Iranian crude exports that may exacerbate a global supply glut. May gasoline (RBK15 -0.84%) is down -1.24%. Apr gold (GCJ15 -1.38%) is down -1.20%. May copper (HGK15 +0.31%) is up +0.33%. Agriculture prices are mixed. The dollar index (DXY00 +0.56%) is up +0.53%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is down -0.47%. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is up +0.51%. Jun T-note prices (ZNM15 -0.07%) are down -2.5 ticks.
The Eurozone Mar business climate indicator rose +0.14 to 0.23, stronger than expectations of +0.11 to 0.18 and matched the November 2014 reading as the highest in 9 months. Mar economic confidence rose +1.6 to 103.9, stronger than expectations of +0.9 to 103.0 and the highest in 3-1/2 years.
UK Feb mortgage approvals rose 61,800, stronger than expectations of 61,500 and the most in 6 months.
UK Feb net consumer credit rose +0.7 billion pounds, less than expectations of +0.9 billion pounds.
