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China's Shanghai Composite rallied to a three-year peak, thanks to a boost from financials
After taking a slight breather yesterday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:DJI) is poised to resume its uptrend today ahead of a raft of economic data due out. With markets closed tomorrow for the Thanksgiving holiday, it's going to be a busy day on the Street. Among the numerous reports on the day's docket are weekly jobless claims, durable goods orders, personal income and spending data, and new and pending home sales. Additionally, crude oil will continue to be in focus, as traders await the outcome of tomorrow's highly anticipated Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting.
And now, on to the numbers...
Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) are about 17 points above fair value.
Market Statistics
The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 1.05 million call contracts traded on Tuesday, compared to 655,394 put contracts. The resultant single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.62, while the 21-day moving average dropped to 0.59.
Currencies and Commodities
- The U.S. dollar index is down 0.05% to trade at 87.88.
- Ahead of today's weekly inventories update -- and tomorrow's OPEC meeting -- crude oil is flirting with a 0.1% lead to linger near $74.15 per barrel.
- Gold, meanwhile, has shed 0.1% to hover around $1,196.70 per ounce.
Earnings and Economic Data
With markets closed tomorrow for Thanksgiving, weekly jobless claims will make an early arrival today. Also set for release are the regularly scheduled crude inventories update, personal income and spending numbers, durable goods orders, the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index, new home sales data, and the pending home sales index. Deere (DE) and Seadrill (SDRL) will report earnings.
Overseas Trading
Markets in Asia settled mostly higher today, after U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) for the third quarter was unexpectedly revised higher. China's Shanghai Composite rallied 1.5% to a new three-year peak, thanks to a boost from financials. Elsewhere, Hong Kong's Hang Seng tacked on 1.1%, while South Korea's Kospi eked out a 0.03% gain. Japan's Nikkei, however, sat out the day's uptrend -- finishing 0.1% lower on the back of a strengthening yen.
Most European bourses are in the green at midday, as traders express optimism that the European Central Bank (ECB) could announce a fresh round of stimulus measures at its meeting next week. Meanwhile, on the economic front, traders are digesting the U.K.'s revised GDP reading, as well as consumer confidence data out of France. Among equities in focus, London-based travel concern Thomas Cook has plunged more than 20% after announcing the immediate departure of its CEO. Against this backdrop, the German DAX is 0.5% higher, U.K.'s FTSE 100 is up 0.1%, and the French CAC 40 is flirting with a 0.1% loss.
Unusual Put and Call Activity:
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