OVERNIGHT MARKETS AND NEWS
December E-mini S&Ps (ESZ14 +0.08%) this morning are up +0.08% and European stocks are up +0.79% at a 2-month high. European bank stocks gained and government bond yields dropped to record lows on the prospects for further easing by the ECB after the OECD said the ECB should expand its monetary support due to the weak Eurozone economy and risk of deflation. Asian stocks closed mixed: Japan +0.29%, Hong Kong -0.21%, China +1.37%, Taiwan -0.07%, Australia -0.50%, Singapore +0.13%, South Korea -0.25%, India -0.57%. Chinese stocks continue to find support from Friday’s surprise interest rate cut by the PBOC as the Shanghai Stock Index posted a new 3-year high. Commodity prices are mostly higher. Jan crude oil (CLF15 +0.59%) is up +0.36% on speculation that OPEC may try to cut crude output at Thursday’s cartel meeting after Iraqi Oil Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said that action must be taken to boost prices because current levels are “unacceptable.” Jan gasoline (RBF15 +0.93%) is up +0.77%. Dec gold (GCZ14 +0.30%) is up +0.34%. Dec copper (HGZ14 +0.22%) is up +0.15%. Agriculture prices are mixed. The dollar index (DXY00 unch) is unchanged. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is down -0.06%. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is down -0.20%. Dec T-note prices (ZNZ14 +0.09%) are up +3.5 ticks.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said that “given the weak Eurozone economy and risk of deflation, the ECB should expand its monetary support, including through asset purchases,” or “quantitative easing.” The OECD kept its 2014 Eurozone GDP estimate at +0.8% and its 2015 estimate at +1.1%, and kept its 2014 Eurozone inflation forecast at +0.5% and 2015 estimate at +0.6%.
German Q3 GDP was left unrevised at +0.1% q/q and +1.2% y/y (nsa), although Q3 exports were revised upward to +1.9% q/q from +0.9% q/q, the most in 3-1/2 years, and Q3 imports were revised higher to +1.7% q/q from +1.6% q/q.
Japan Oct PPI services rose +3.6% y/y, right on expectations and the fastest pace of increase in 23-3/4 years.
