UPDATED 7:05 am ET
STOCKS – European stocks were little changed, with the Stoxx Europe 600 Index heading for a weekly gain, amid an increase in mergers-and-acquisitions activity and as investors awaited data on euro-area consumer confidence. U.S. index futures were little changed, while Asian shares fell.
BONDS – Investors trying to anticipate Federal Reserve interest-rate policy are ignoring the dots and focusing on Chair Janet Yellen’s words.
COMMODITIES – Copper rose the most in almost three weeks in London, heading for the first weekly gain in four. Trading in bullion options show the biggest rally in nine months has more to run after some contracts betting on higher prices surged by the most since 2012 yesterday.
CURRENCIES – A gauge of the dollar approached a one-month low as currency volatility slid to a record amid prospects a sluggish U.S. economy will prompt the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates near zero.
ECONOMIC DATA – CAD Core CPI m/m and Retail Sales due at 8:30 ET.
