Expectations in the US Markets
US index futures trade in positive territory this Wednesday (30). Investors are closely monitoring the release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, the inflation gauge most watched by the Federal Reserve (Fed), as well as results from chipmaker Micron Technology.
Analysts surveyed by Dow Jones project a 0.3% monthly rise in PCE, which would bring the annual rate to 3.7%. The CME Group FedWatch tool indicates the market now sees a 49% chance of a 0.25 percentage point rate hike next month, down from 71% on Monday.
For the month, the S&P 500 and Dow Jones point to losses, while the Nasdaq advances more than 1%. For the quarter, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq post gains of 2%, and the Dow Jones declines nearly 2%.
- Dow Jones Futures: +0.39%
- S&P 500 Futures: +0.23%
- Nasdaq Futures: +0.16%
Europe Posts Broad Gains
European markets advance across the board, driven by the materials sector, followed by travel, leisure and utilities stocks.
- STOXX 600: +0.56%
- DAX (Germany): +0.35%
- FTSE 100 (UK): +0.65%
- CAC 40 (France): +0.03%
- FTSE MIB (Italy): +0.67%
Asia-Pacific Closes Higher
Asia-Pacific stock markets ended the day in positive territory. China's official manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to 50.1 in September from 49.8 in August, in line with Reuters analysts' expectations. The recovery in industrial activity in China reinforces the government's stimulus measures.
- Shanghai SE (China): +0.31%
- Nikkei (Japan): +1.94%
- Hang Seng Index (Hong Kong): +0.37%
- Nifty 50 (India): +0.05%
- ASX 200 (Australia): +0.92%
Commodities and Oil
Oil prices remain largely stable after Donald Trump denied any intention to ease sanctions on Iran. Brent is on track for a monthly gain of about 14%, the largest increase since July, while WTI advances toward 4% for the month.
Iron ore traded in China also closed higher, supported by the Chinese industrial recovery.
- WTI Crude: -0.01%, at US$ 89.37 per barrel
- Brent Crude: 0.00%, at US$ 102.59 per barrel
- Iron ore on Dalian exchange: +0.14%, at 702.50 yuan (US$ 104.80)
Bitcoin Fluctuates
The market's leading cryptocurrency edges slightly lower for the day.
- Bitcoin (BTC): -0.50%, at US$ 83,125.70