Thursday Watch

Night Trading

• Asian equity indices are -.25% to +.50% on average.

• Asia Ex-Japan Investment Grade CDS Index 124.0 +2.0 basis points.

• Asia Pacific Sovereign CDS Index 103.0 unch. 

• FTSE-100 futures n/a.

• S&P 500 futures n/a.

• NASDAQ 100 futures n/a.

Morning Preview Links

Earnings of Note
Company/Estimate

• None of note

Economic Releases
 8:30 am EST

• Initial Jobless Claims are estimated to fall to 345K versus 379K the prior week.

• Continuing Claims are estimated to fall to 2827K versus 2884K prior.

Upcoming Splits

• None of note

Other Potential Market Movers

• The China Industrial Profits report, Japan Employment/CPI/Production data and the weekly Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index could also impact trading today.

BOTTOM LINE: Asian indices are mostly higher, boosted by technology and industrial shares in the region. I expect US stocks to open modestly higher and to weaken into the afternoon, finishing mixed. The Portfolio is 50% net long heading into the day.