Markets across the world are gaining, and U.S. stock futures are higher, after solid U.S. home sales data and a strong trading session in Asia.
Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:
1. Global stocks higher amid Fed rate hike speculation
1. Global stocks higher amid Fed rate hike speculation
Global stocks were broadly higher on Wednesday and returned to levels seen before hawkish minutes from the last meeting of the Federal Reserve (Fed) and aggressive comments from several U.S. central bank officials caused jitters world-wide.
With the exception of Chinese stocks, that slipped on growth concerns over the world’s second largest economy, Asian stocks rose with Japan and Australia closing with gains of 1.6% and 1.5%, respectively.
In the U.S., futures pointed to a higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.45% gain, S&P 500 futures rose 0.47%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.57% rise.
2. Greece gets $11.5 billion aid package
2. Greece gets $11.5 billion aid package
Euro zone finance ministers agreed that Greece would receive €10.3 billion ($11.5 billion) in bailout funds in time to avoid financial peril this summer as debt payments come due.
Despite the fact that a plan for debt relief for Athens was pushed back to mid-2018, investors appeared to breathe a sigh of relief and poured into Greek bonds.
With the increased risk appetite, the yield on the Greek 10-year bond fell to a six-month low on Wednesday, passing below the key 7% level that is generally considered to be the dividing line for debt sustainability.
3. Oil edging towards $50
3. Oil edging towards $50
U.S. oil futures are up 1.3% early Wednesday, racing towards the magic level of $50 per barrel. Analysts are expecting a further drop in U.S. crude inventories when the latest data is released at 10.30 a.m. ET.
Oil has been gaining steadily in the past couple of weeks, but analysts warn more wild swings in prices might be coming.
4. International markets overview and market recap
4. International markets overview and market recap
European markets are up in early trading. Germany's DAX hit the 10,000 points barrier Wednesday, gaining about 1%.
Asian markets rallied overnight and finished the session higher.
The Dow Jones industrial average gained 1.2% on Tuesday, while the S&P 500 climbed 1.4% and the Nasdaq added 2%.
