U.S. stock futures wavered ahead of another volley of retail earnings reports and the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve’s most recent policy meeting.
S&P 500 futures were flat and futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) slipped 0.1%. The contracts don’t necessarily predict market moves after the markets open.
European stocks advanced Wednesday for a two-day winning streak. The Stoxx Europe 600 climbed 0.1% in morning trade as gains in materials and utilities sectors were offset by losses in the energy sector.
The U.K.’s FTSE 100 added 0.2%. Other stock indexes in Europe also mostly climbed as France’s CAC 40 gained 0.1%, the U.K.’s FTSE 250 added 0.1% and Germany’s DAX gained 0.1%.
The Swiss franc, the euro, and the British pound were up 0.1% against the U.S. dollar.
In commodities, international benchmark Brent crude rose 0.8% to $69.58 a barrel. Gold was also up 0.3% to $1,793.50 a troy ounce.
The German 10-year bund yield slipped to minus 0.477% and 10-year U.K. government debt known as gilts yields declined to 0.555%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield strengthened to 1.268% from 1.258%. Bond yields and prices move inversely.
In Asia, indexes mostly climbed as Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.7%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index added 0.6% and China’s benchmark Shanghai Composite gained 1.1%.
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