OVERNIGHT MARKETS AND NEWS
Mar E-mini S&Ps (ESH17 +0.32%) are up +0.26% at a new all-time nearest-futures high and European stocks are up +1.10% at a 1-week high on optimism over the global economic outlook. Mar COMEX copper (HGH17 -0.55%) climbed to a 1-3/4 month high in overnight trade before falling back as expectations for stronger economic growth fueled gains in commodity producing stocks. European bourses found support on strength in bank stocks and insurance companies, while the CBOE Volatility Index, or VIX, a gauge of fear in the equity market, fell to a 2-1/2 year low today. Positive Japanese trade data also gave global equity markets a boost after Japan Dec exports climbed +5.4% y/y, the biggest increase in 17 months. Mar WTI crude oil (CLH17 -0.92%) is down -0.96% after API data late Tuesday showed U.S. crude supplies rose +2.93 million bbl last week. Asian stocks settled mostly higher: Japan +1.43%, Hong Kong +0.43%, China +0.22%, Taiwan closed for holiday, Australia +0.38%, Singapore -0.07%, South Korea +0.32%, India +1.21%.
The dollar index (DXY00 -0.42%) is down -0.32%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is up +0.18%. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is down -0.27%.
Mar 10-year T-note prices (ZNH17 +0.01%) are down -1.5 ticks.
ECB Executive Board member Lautenschlaeger said “all preconditions for a stable rise in inflation exist and I am optimistic that we can soon turn to the question of an exit” from the ECB’s bond-buying program.
The German Jan IFO business climate unexpectedly fell -1.2 to 109.8, weaker than expectations of +0.3 to 111.3.
The Japan Dec trade balance widened to a surplus of 641.4 billion yen, larger than expectations of 281.1 billion yen. Dec exports rose +5.4% y/y, stronger than expectations of +1.1% y/y and the largest increase in 17 months. Dec imports fell -2.6% y/y, weaker than expectations of -0.8% y/y.
U.S. STOCK PREVIEW
Key U.S. news today includes: (1) weekly MBA mortgage applications (previous +0.8% with purchase sub-index -5.2% and refi sub-index +6.8%), (2) Nov FHFA house price index (expected +0.4%, Oct +0.4% m/m), (3) the Treasury auctions $15 billion of 2-year floating-rate notes and $34 billion of 5-year T-notes, (4) House and Senate Republicans begin a 3-day policy retreat in Philadelphia, (5) EIA Weekly Petroleum Status Report.
