UPDATED 6:55 am ET
STOCKS – Japan’s Nikkei share average fell on Friday, snapping a three-day winning streak as investors took profits. European stocks were higher, with improvement in German business sentiment. The Nasdaq seems poised to bust out another record, with technology stock futures pointing up as Amazon.com, Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp. rose in premarket trade.
BONDS – The response of the European Central Bank would be key to the consequences of a missed payment by Greece to the IMF, Fitch Ratings says.
COMMODITIES – A softer U.S. dollar and strong economic indicators in Europe and Asia lent support to oil prices, which have surged by nearly $10 a barrel this month amid rising tension in the Middle East and slowing U.S. production growth.
CURRENCIES – The U.S. dollar was tracking its weak tone after soft U.S. economic data overnight such as new-home sales, the latest in a series of downbeat numbers that help reduce investors confidence that the Federal Reserve will raise short-term rates sometime this year.
ECONOMIC DATA – US Core Durable Goods Orders m/m due at 8:30, BOC Gov Poloz Speaks at 10:30 ET.
