By MarketWatch
Indications: Stock futures buoyed as oil pulls back
U.S. stock-index futures stick largely to the flat line, in the wake of disappointment over durable-goods orders and lackluster Case-Shiller data. Earlier, futures keyed off oil prices pulling back from recent highs, a day ahead of a long-term-liquidity injection by the European Central Bank, the institution’s second such operation.
Read more in Indications
Economic Report: Orders for big-ticket items fall 4% in January
Orders for long-lasting U.S. goods fell a bigger-than-expected 4% in January, as demand for a broad array of products declined, government data show. Read more in Economic Report
Europe Markets: Europe stocks turn mostly lower after U.S. data
European stock markets give up earlier gains and head lower after the disappointing U.S. durables data. There’s growing anticipation among investors in Europe about the second three-year long-term refinance operation from the ECB scheduled for Wednesday.
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Asia Markets: Asia markets mostly up as crude pulls back
Most Asian markets rise against the backdrop of a retreat in crude-oil prices. A weakened yen and strong retail sales lift Japanese stocks despite a fall in technology shares coming on the heels of Elpida Memory Inc.’s bankruptcy filing.
Read more in Asia Markets
Asia Stocks to Watch: Elpida casts shadow on Japanese techs, others
Japanese tech-component makers’ shares fall sharply in Tokyo, as the bankruptcy filing by Elpida Memory stokes concerns over the ability of the companies to compete globally amid a strong yen.
Read more in Asia Stocks to Watch
Currencies: Dollar slips as LTRO hopes boost risk appetite
The dollar edges lower against the euro and most other major rivals other than the yen as currency traders position themselves ahead to the European Central Bank’s three-year long-term-refinancing operation.
Read more in Currencies
Futures Movers: Oil pulls back but remains near $108
Nymex light-sweet-crude-oil futures pull back in electronic trading but remain near multi-month highs, with analysts linking geopolitical tensions to the support for prices.
Read more in Futures Movers
Metals Stocks: Gold inches higher as dollar drops ahead of LTRO
Gold futures rise for the first time in three sessions as the dollar index trends lower a day ahead of the European Central Bank’s long-term refinancing operation.
Read more in Metals Stocks
Economic Report: Bank of Israel stands pat, leaves key rate at 2.5%
The Bank of Israel holds its benchmark interest rate at 2.5% for March, the second month in a row at that level, as the central bank keeps a close eye out for oscillations in the inflation rate.
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