Earnings Beats Boost US Stocks

Bouncing back from US index declines of 0.5% to 0.7% yesterday, US index futures are up 0.1% to 0.9% this morning. European markets are quiet with the Dax, CAC and FTSE all holding steady. Asia Pacific markets fell to end the week with the Hang Seng dropping 2.1% and the Nikkei sliding 1.0%. The US […]

Swiss Surprise

A day after the NASDAQ Composite Index reached 20,000 for the first time, US index futures are backsliding a bit this morning with declines of 0.1% to 0.4% in the wake of a disappointing US inflation report. Over in Europe, the FTSE, CAC and Dax are all flat. Asia Pacific markets rallied overnight, as both […]

US Inflation and Bank of Canada Meeting In Focus Today

US index futures are trading up 0.1% to 0.4% following the release of a relatively benign US inflation report, as they try to shake off yesterday’s US index declines of 0.2% to 0.3%. Over in Europe, the Dax is flat and the FTSE is up 0.3%. US Consumer prices were in line with expectations, up […]

China in the Spotlight for Positive and Negative Interventions

Generally speaking markets really hate it when governments get too involved in the economy or investing whether it be tariffs, sanctions, capital gains or dividend taxes, antitrust actions or other things. Nvidia is down 2.2% in premarket trading, dragging NASDAQ futures down 0.2% after China announced over the weekend that it has started an investigation […]

Bitcoin Backs Off, Payrolls Beat Expectations

North American employment numbers came in stronger than expected. US Nonfarm Payrolls (227K vs street 200K, previous revised up to 26K from 12K), and Canada employment change (50.5K vs street 25K) both beat expectations.  Wage inflation data, being Canada Average Hourly Wages (3.9% vs previous 4.9%), and US Average Hourly Earnings (4.00% vs street 3.9%) […]

Bitcoin Breaches $100,000

Markets, being dominated by humans can get drawn psychologically to large numbers. This year we have seen the S&P 500 blast through 5,000 and 6,000, the Dow Industrials rally through 40,000 and 45,000, the Nasdaq clear 20,000 and keep on going and Gold use $2,500 as a launch pad. Today the focus is on cryptocurrencies […]

Positive Earnings Propel Stocks Upward; ADP Payrolls Disappoint

US index futures are up 0.3% to 0.6% this morning but have been backsliding a bit as the morning has progressed. European action is mixed with the FTSE down 0.3% and the Dax up 0.6%. Commodities are mixed with Copper down 0.6% and US Crude Oil up 0.1%. Gold is down 0.3%, while Bitcoin is […]

Positive PMI and Disappointing Bank Earnings

Coming off of Monday’s mixed finish which saw the S&P 500 close at a new all-time high, the NASDAQ gain 1.0% and the Dow Industrials lose 0.3%, US index futures are pretty much flat this morning. European bourses are in the green today with the FTSE up 0.9% and the Dax up 0.2%. Currency trading […]

December Starts with the US Dollar in Rally Mode

Last week’s positive finish for US markets has carried through the weekend. Asia Pacific markets posted gains of 0.6% to 1.2% with Shanghai leading the way. In Europe this morning the Dax is up 1.1% while the FTSE is up 0.3%. US index futures are flat. The US Dollar is strong to start the week […]

November Finishes on a Quiet Note

It’s Black Friday and also the last trading day for November. US markets close at 1:00 pm EST. US traders don’t seem to want to make any waves today. US index futures are up 0.2%-0.3%. The 10-year treasury note yield has slipped back under 4.25%. European markets are mixed with the FTSE down 0.1% and […]