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Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) blew out third-quarter earnings expectations
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:DJI) is headed sharply higher ahead of the bell, buoyed by a much better-than-expected earnings report from Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT). Also helping U.S. equities is strong purchasing managers index (PMI) data coming out of Europe and Asia. Looking ahead, Markit's flash PMI and the Conference Board's index of leading indicators are due out later this morning, while several firms are slated to report earnings after the close, including Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT).
And now, on to the numbers...
Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average 2 Minute (INDEXDJX:.DJI) are nearly 175 points above fair value.
Market Statistics
The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 1.1 million call contracts traded on Wednesday, compared to 811,603 put contracts. The resultant single-session equity put/call ratio jumped to 0.74.
Currencies and Commodities
- The U.S. dollar index is down fractionally at 85.73.
- Crude oil has tacked on 0.2% to $80.70 per barrel.
- Elsewhere, gold has shed 0.7% to $1,236.50 per ounce.
Earnings and Economic Data
Weekly jobless claims, the Conference Board's index of leading indicators, and Markit's flash PMI come out today. Several big-name companies will report earnings, such as MSFT, CAT, 3M (MMM), AMZN, Comcast (CMCSA), Eli Lilly (LLY), Dr Pepper Snapple (DPS), Dunkin Brands (DNKN), Juniper Networks (JNPR), Lorillard (LO), NOK, Southwest Airlines (LUV), Pandora Media (P), Potash Corp./Saskatchewan (POT), PulteGroup (PHM), Under Armour (UA), and United Continental (UAL). Also reporting will be Alexion Pharma (ALXN), American Airlines (AAL), American Electric (AEP), Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE), Deckers Outdoor (DECK), GrubHub (GRUB), IMAX (IMAX), JetBlue Airways (JBLU), Piper Jaffray (PJC), Riverbed Technology (RVBD), and Union Pacific (UNP).
Overseas Trading
Stocks in Asia finished lower despite the HSBC flash manufacturing PMI hitting a three-month high of 50.4 in October, as factory output dropped to a five-month low, and energy companies throughout the region slid in sympathy with declining oil prices. By the close, Japan's Nikkei was down 0.4%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng and South Korea's Kospi were each off 0.3%. China's Shanghai Composite paced the decliners, giving back 1%.
European bourses are mostly higher around midday, thanks to stronger-than-expected eurozone PMI figures and earnings data from Credit Suisse. Specifically, Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 are both 0.3% higher. However, London's FTSE 100 has shed 0.3%.
Unusual Put and Call Activity:
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