OVERNIGHT MARKETS AND NEWS
March E-mini S&Ps (ESH16 +1.01%) are up +1.03% and European stocks are up +2.67% as crude oil (CLH16 +2.18%) rallied +1.65% and bank stocks climbed. Bank of America, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley were all up at least 1.5% in pre-market trading ahead of Fed Chair Yellen's testimony on the economy to the House Financial Services Committee later this morning. Technology stocks are also higher, as Amazon.com, Facebook and Netflix were all up at least 2% in pre-market trading. European bank stocks also rallied to lead European stocks higher with Commerzbank AG up over 8% and Deutsche Bank AG surged 13% on reports that Germany's biggest bank was considering a share buyback, which eased concern about its funds. Asian stocks settled lower: Japan -2.31%, Australia -1.17%, Singapore -1.57%, India -1.09%. Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and South Korea were all closed for holiday. Japan's Nikkei Stock Index tumbled to a 1-1/4 year low as strength in the yen undercut exporter stocks along with concern that margin calls were generating forced selling of stocks.
The dollar index (DXY00 +0.06%) is up +0.07%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is down -0.34%. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is down -0.11%.
Mar T-note prices (ZNH16 -0.18%) are down -7.5 ticks.
UK Dec industrial production fell -1.1% m/m, weaker than expectations of -0.1% m/m and the largest monthly decline in 3-1/4 years. Dec manufacturing production unexpectedly fell -0.2% m/m, weaker than expectations of +0.1% m/m and the third consecutive decline.
U.S. STOCK PREVIEW
Key U.S. news today includes: (1) weekly MBA mortgage applications (previous -2.6% with purchase sub-index -7.0% and refi sub-index +0.3%), (2) Fed Chair Janet Yellen's testimony before the House Financial Services Committee to deliver the Fed's semi-annual monetary policy report to Congress, (3) the Treasury's auction of $23 billion of 10-year T-notes, and (4) Jan monthly budget statement (expected +$10.1 billion, Dec -$14.444 billion).
