Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to a flat opening on Wednesday ahead of economic data.
Futures on the S&P 500 are down 0.03 percent, futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average are up 0.01 percent and Nasdaq100 futures are up 0.14 percent.
On Tuesday, US stocks ended narrowly mixed as some positive data on U.S. retail sales and business inventories was offset by some grim news out of Europe.
Investors are likely to focus on NY Empire State manufacturing index, industrial production and import price index, which are due to be released before market opens.
NY Empire State manufacturing index is expected to show that manufacturing activity continued to strengthen in September for a 14th straight month.
Industrial production is expected increase at a moderate pace of 0.2 percent in August compared to 1 percent in July as automakers scaled back following a surge in output the prior month.
The greenback surged 2.92 percent against the yen after Japanese authorities intervened into the market for the first time since 2004 to cap the yen’s gain.
European markets are currently trading lower with FTSE 100 down by 4.73 points, DAX30 down by 5.54 points and CAC 40 down by 0.07 points.
Crude oil futures declined 1.12 percent ahead of inventory data and copper futures fell 0.39 percent.
Most Asian stocks ended higher on Wednesday, led by Tokyo shares on weaker yen. Japanese Nikkei climbed 2.34 percent and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.11 percent, while Chinese Shanghai declined 1.34 percent.
