OVERNIGHT MARKETS AND NEWS

December E-mini S&Ps (ESZ14 +0.10%) this morning are up +0.06% and European stocks are up +0.44% at a 2-1/2 month high ahead of the conclusion of the ECB meeting and comments from ECB President Draghi that may shed clues on the possibility the ECB expands asset purchases to include government bonds. As expected, the BOE at the conclusion of its 2-day policy meeting maintained its 0.50% benchmark interest rate and kept its asset purchase target at 375 billion pounds. Asian stocks closed higher: Japan +0.94%, Hong Kong +1.72%, China +4.61%, Taiwan +0.54%, Australia +0.88%, Singapore +0.04%, South Korea +0.96%, India +0.42%. Japan's Nikkei Stock Index climbed to a 7-1/3 year high as exporters rose as the rally in USD/JPY to a 7-1/3 year high boosts the earnings prospects of Japanese exporters. China's Shanghai Stock Index surged over 4% to a 3-1/2 year high spurred on by an influx of money from Chinese investors who have opened stock accounts at the fastest pace in 3 years. Commodity prices are mixed. Jan crude oil (CLF15 -0.50%) is unchanged. Jan gasoline (RBF15 -0.30%) is up +0.05%. Feb gold (GCG15 -0.39%) is down -0.53%. Mar copper (HGH15 +0.84%) is up +0.89%. Agriculture prices are lower. The dollar index (DXY00 +0.02%) is up +0.03% at a new 5-1/2 year high. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is down -0.01% at a new 2-1/4 year low. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is up +0.11% at a new 7-1/3 year high after the Nikkei and Yomiuri newspapers reported that Prime Minister Abe's Liberal Democratic Party will boost its majority at the Dec 14 election, which will give Abe a mandate to continue his reflationary, yen-negative, fiscal policies. Mar T-note prices (ZNH15 +0.02%) are up +1 tick.

The German Nov Markit construction PMI rose +2.0 to 53.5, the fastest pace of expansion in 9 months.

UK Nov Halifax house prices rose +0.4% m/m and +8.2% 3-mon/year-over-year, more than expectations of +0.3% m/m and +8.0% 3-mo/year-over-year.

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