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Asian stocks settled mostly higher amid strength in the automotive sector
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:DJI) is looking to build off of yesterday's first-ever close north of 18,000, with futures pointed solidly higher ahead of the holiday-shortened session. While markets will close at 1 p.m. ET and activity is expected to be light, traders are looking forward to latest report on jobless claims and crude inventories. However, the earnings docket is bare.
And now, on to the numbers...
Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average 2 Minute (INDEXDJX:.DJI) are nearly 44 points above fair value.
Market Statistics
The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 1.12 million call contracts traded on Tuesday, compared to 582,043 put contracts. The resultant single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.52, while the 21-day moving average remained at 0.64.
Currencies and Commodities
- The U.S. dollar index is down 0.2% at 89.89.
- Crude oil is sliding, off 2.3% at $55.80 per barrel.
- Gold is 0.1% lower at $1,177.30 per ounce.
Earnings and Economic Data
With markets shuttered tomorrow for the holiday, weekly jobless claims will come out this morning. Also set for release is the regularly scheduled crude inventories update. Markets will close at 1 p.m. ET for Christmas Eve. There are no major earnings reports on the docket.
Overseas Trading
Asian benchmarks ended mostly higher, with traders encouraged by yesterday's strong third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) reading out of the U.S. Japan's Nikkei popped 1.2% on strength in the automotive sector, following Tuesday's holiday closure. South Korea's Kospi and Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.4% and 0.1%, respectively. The lone decliner was the Shanghai Composite, which gave back nearly 2% as financial stocks retreated.
Stocks in Europe closed the shortened session mixed on low volume, with little in the way of news. London's FTSE 100 was up 0.2% and France's CAC 40 retreated 0.3%, while Germany's DAX was closed for an early start to the Christmas holiday.
Unusual Put and Call Activity:
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