OVERNIGHT MARKETS AND NEWS
September E-mini S&Ps (ESU14 -0.25%) this morning are down -0.26% and European stocks are down -0.24% after the EU said that additional sanctions on Russia will enter into force on Friday. Also, signs of weaker economic conditions in China that may undercut global growth hurt stocks after Chinese consumer inflation reached a 4-month low last month. Asian stocks closed mostly lower: Japan +0.76%, Hong Kong -0.17%, China-0.37%, Taiwan -0.37%, Australia -0.51%, Singapore +0.26%, South Korea -0.87%, India -0.23%. Weakness in the yen propelled Japanese exporters and pushed the Nikkei Stock Index up to a 7-1/2 month high. Commodity prices are mostly lower. Oct crude oil (CLV14 -1.17%) is down -1.10% at a fresh 16-month low after the IEA cut its 2015 global oil demand forecast to 93.8 million bpd, -165,000 bpd less than predicted last month. Oct gasoline (RBV14 -0.80%) is down -0.73% at a 10-month low. Dec gold (GCZ14 -0.29%) is down -0.37%. Dec copper (HGZ14 -1.17%) is down -1.32% at a 2-3/4 month low on dollar strength and signs of a slowing Chinese economy. Agriculture and livestock prices are lower ahead of today’s Sep WASDE report from the USDA. The dollar index (DXY00 -0.03%) is up +0.01%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is up +0.02%. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is up +0.25% at a new 5-3/4 year high as the yen weakened further on speculation of additional BOJ monetary stimulus after BOJ Governor Kuroda told Japanese Prime Minister Abe that the BOJ will do its “utmost” to achieve its inflation target. Dec T-note prices (ZNZ14 +0.03%) are up +1.5 ticks.
ECB Governing Council member and Bank of Italy Governor Visco said that “In the Eurozone, recent data indicates that growth perspectives remain subdued and economic weakness is no longer confined to countries under stress.” He added that “averting the risk that a too-prolonged period of low inflation would eventually lead to a dis-anchoring of medium-term inflation expectations is paramount” and “if needed, further monetary-policy actions can be undertaken.”
