OVERNIGHT MARKETS AND NEWS

December E-mini S&Ps (ESZ15 -0.21%) are down -0.31% and European stocks are down -0.85% on reduced chances of additional easing from the ECB after the ECB's lending survey showed that credit standards on loans to companies eased for the sixth consecutive quarter. Also, weakness is IBM, which is down -4.5% in pre-market trading, is undercutting stocks after it lowered its full-year profit forecast after Q3 revenue missed estimates. Mining companies and raw-material stocks are lower as well after the price of copper (HGZ15 -0.30%) fell to a 1-week low. Asian stocks settled mixed: Japan +0.42%, Hong Kong -0.37%, China +1.14%, Taiwan +0.26%, Australia -0.65%, Singapore -0.18%, South Korea +0.43%, India -0.21%. China's Shanghai Composite rose to a 1-3/4 month high as a rally in small-cap stocks led the overall market higher on speculation the government will boost stimulus in the technology industry to offset the faltering industrial sector.

The dollar index (DXY00 -0.31%) is down -0.31%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is up +0.45%. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is up +0.11%.

Dec T-note prices (ZNZ15 -0.15%) are down -6 ticks on negative carryover from a slide in German bund prices after strength in the ECB's Bank Lending Survey curbed speculation the ECB will expand QE.

The ECB said Q3 credit standards on loans to companies eased for the sixth consecutive quarter, according to the ECB's Bank Lending Survey. The survey showed 40% of banks said they used the extra liquidity from the ECB's QE program to lend to companies, while 14% increased mortgages and 36% expanded consumer credit and other loans to households.

U.S. STOCK PREVIEW

Key U.S. news today includes: (1) Sep housing starts (expected +1.4% to 1.142 million, Aug -3.0% to 1.126 million), (2) introductory remarks by Fed Governor Jerome Powell and New York Fed President William Dudley at a conference on bond market liquidity, and (3) Fed Chair Janet Yellen's welcoming remarks at a Labor Hall of Honor Induction Ceremony.