OVERNIGHT MARKETS AND NEWS
Jun E-mini S&Ps (ESM16 +0.18%) are up +0.18% and European stocks are up +0.10% as energy producing stocks are higher with a +2.90% rally in crude oil. Crude oil shot higher late yesterday after the API reported that weekly U.S. crude supplies fell -4.3 million bbl. Also, a 2% gain in Cisco Systems in pre-market trading is giving technology stocks a lift after J.P. Morgan Chase raised its recommendation on the stock to neutral from underweight. European stocks also received a boost after German Feb industrial production fell less than expected. Weakness in drug companies tempered stock index gains after Pfizer decided to terminate its $160 billion merger with Allergan Plc. Asian stocks settled mixed: Japan -0.11%, Hong Kong +0.15%, China -0.08%, Taiwan -1.67%, Australia +0.44%, Singapore +0.37%, South Korea +0.59%, India +0.07%. Japan’s Nikkei Stock Index dropped to a 1-1/2 month low as a rally in the yen to a 17-month high against the dollar fueled a sell-off in exporter stocks.
The dollar index (DXY00 +0.29%) is up +0.29%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is down -0.28%. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is down -0.02%.
Jun T-note prices (ZNM16 -0.08%) are down -3.5 ticks.
German Feb industrial production fell -0.5% m/m, a smaller decline than expectations of -1.8% m/m.
U.S. STOCK PREVIEW
Key U.S. news today includes: (1) Key U.S. reports today include: (1) weekly MBA mortgage applications (previous -1.0% with purchase sub-index +2.1% and refi sub-index -3.3%), (2) Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester’s speech on the U.S. economic outlook and monetary policy at an event hosted by the Cleveland Associations for Business Economics, CFA Society Cleveland and Risk Management Association of Northern Ohio, (3) the minutes of the Mar 15-16 FOMC meeting, (4) St. Louis Fed President James Bullard’s welcoming remarks at a lecture in St. Louis, and (5) Dallas Fed President Rob Kaplan’s speech on a moderated panel at the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth.
