After a slow one yesterday the US markets closed flat with the exception of the Nasdaq which closed higher by 0.38%, Asian markets are all higher this morning, with the weakness in the Japanese yen helping the Nikkei 225 trade higher by 0.58%.
In commodities markets, WTI and Brent are on the rise once more as rumours fly around that Nigeria and Libya may join the output cuts. Gold found support just ahead of the $1200 level, but looks out for some volatile price action today with Yellen's testimony. Copper has also bounced off of the previous wave resistance and used it as support at $2.6440 and iron ore prices in China have also stabilised.
NZD has taken a hit overnight as data came in worse than expected and we also saw some strength filter through to AUD with the NAB business confidence edging higher.
Morning Stories
Antofagasta (LON:ANTO) workers approve a strike in Chile over a copper mine.
Pagegroup PLC (LON:PAGE) reports Q2 gross profit growth, constant at FX +7.7% vs consensus +6.3%
ITM Power (LON:ITM) has won a fuel contract with Honda UK
Premier Asset Management Group (LON:PAM) state Total assets under management (AUM) increased to £5.84B as at 30-Jun-17 and Total net inflows of £231M in the three months to 30-Jun-17 in their Q3 trading update.
Gocompare.com (LON:GOCO) issues H1 trading update, they report H1 revenue £75.8M, +4% y/y.
Pearson (LON:PSON) are to sell a 22% stake in Penguin Random House to Bertelsmann and recapitalize the business for $1.0B
Marks and Spencer (LON:MKS) Q1 Group Rev 2.7% y/y, Food LFL sales -0.1% v expected +0.6% and affirms outlook: Clothing and Home LFL -1.2% y/y v 1.0%e
Galliford Try (LON:GFRD) FY trading update state they see profits towards the upper end of the analysts' range
Looking forward today
Fed's Brainard, Kashkari, ECB Coeure, BoE's Broadbent and Haldane all speak, we also have the US JOLTS data.