After yesterday’s uninspiring session on Wall Street, sentiments aren’t exactly improving as the week unfolds. That’s despite the ongoing expectation of a dovish tone being set in the FOMC meeting minutes when they’re released later in the day, plus the idea that an end to the Federal Reserve’s QE tapering may be nearing – both of which are factors that should have the potential to support equity markets.
The US-China trade talks continue and the lack of progress here could act as a drag on sentiment. China has cautioned that any new tariffs would be catastrophic for global equity markets, pointing towards a need to resolve differences, or at least extend deadlines, before the March 2nd date. That had previously been set as an immovable hard stop when fresh levies would come in but with Donald Trump perhaps willing to make concessions here, such a move may give markets the confidence they need.
The FOMC minutes will dominate an otherwise quiet macroeconomic calendar, too.
Ahead of the open we’re calling the Dow down 10 at 25881 and the S&P 500 down 1 at 2779.