What you need to know before the US open
With little in the way of economic data today, futures suggest US markets will open down, tracking European counterparts, which were trading lower this morning,
Over in Asia, the Nikkei rose in Tuesday trading, as the Bank of Japan maintained its huge monetary stimulus programme.
And the OECD has said that the slowing of growth in emerging markets is holding back global growth.
Corporate news
CME, the US exchange group, has been given the all clear by UK regulators to launch a London exchange.
In Europe
European Central Bank vice president Vitor Constancio has said the bank failed to hammer home the message of slack in the Eurozone economy in its March meeting. He also pointed to the policy measures it has in reserve, which can be used if needed.
Meanwhile, Germany’s foreign minister has warned that time’s running out for the EU to respond effectively to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, saying it will have to act if Crimea vote goes ahead.
Data in focus
- 2.00pm: US wholesale inventories
- 3.00pm: NIESR GDP estimate