Live Index – Fri, 01 May 2015 Premarket

June E-mini S&Ps (ESM15 +0.41%) this morning are up +0.30% and UK stocks are up +0.18% after the China Apr manufacturing PMI came in stronger-than-expected. Gains in UK stocks were limited after the UK Apr Markit manufacturing PMI unexpected declined to its slowest pace of growth in 7 months. Most European markets are closed today for Labour Day. Monsanto is up 3.5% in pre-market trading after people familiar with the matter said it approached Syngenta AG about a takeover and Gilead Sciences is up 2.6% after it reported stronger-than-expected Q1 profit. The 10-year Greek 10-year bond fell to a 1-1/2 month low of 10.2% amid optimism a deal over bailout aid will be reached. Asian stocks that were open closed higher: Japan +0.06% and Australia +0.42%. All other Asian markets were closed for the May Day holiday.

Commodity prices are mixed. Jun crude oil (CLM15 -0.20%) is down -0.23%. Jun gasoline (RBM15 -0.72%) is down -0.80%%. Metals prices are mixed. Jun gold (GCM15 -0.25%) is down -0.20%. Jul copper (HGN15 +0.54%) is up +0.47% at a 1-1/4 month high after China’s manufacturing activity last month expanded more than forecast. Agriculture prices are mixed.

The dollar index (DXY00 +0.05%) is up +0.08%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is up +0.39% at a fresh 2-month high as Greek default concerns recede after the Greek 10-year bond yield fell to a 1-1/2 month low. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is up +0.36%.

Jun T-note prices (ZNM15 -0.23%) are down -7 ticks.

People with knowledge of the matter said that Greek Prime Minister Tsipras told his cabinet late Thursday that he’s confident a deal to unlock bailout funds is close as the Greek government steps up talks with its creditors in a bid to reach a preliminary deal by this Sunday, May 3.

The China Apr manufacturing PMI was unchanged at 50.1, stronger than expectations of -0.1 to 50.0.

Key U.S. reports today include: (1) the Apr ISM manufacturing index (expected +0.5 to 52.0 after March’s -1.4 point decline to 51.5), (2) the final-April Markit U.S. manufacturing PMI (expected unrevised at 54.2 after the preliminary-April report of -1.5 to 54.2), (3) the final-Apr U.S. consumer sentiment index from the University of Michigan (expected +0.1 to 96.0 after the early-April report of +2.9 to 95.9), (4) March construction spending (expected +0.5% m/m after Feb’s -0.1% m/m), (5) Apr total vehicle sales (expected 16.90 million versus March’s 17.05 million), and (6) a speech by San Francisco Fed President John Williams at a Chapman University conference on financial markets and monetary policy.

There are 15 of the S&P 500 companies that report earnings today with notable reports including: Berkshire Hathaway (consensus $ 2373), Chevron (0.79), Duke Energy (1.14), Weyerhaeuser (0.25), CVS (1.08), Aon (1.28).

U.S. IPO’s scheduled to price today include: MYOB Group (MYO), OpGen (OPGN), Good Times Restaurants (GTIM). IPOs that are scheduled to trade today include: Black Stone Minerals (BSM).

Equity conferences during the remainder of this week include: none.

AON Plc (AON -1.69%) reported Q1 EPS of $ 1.37, better than consensus of $ 1.28.

Leggett & Platt (LEG -1.76%) reported Q1 EPS of 50 cents, above consensus of 46 cents.

Enbridge Energy (EEP -2.21%) reported Q1 EPS of 26 cents, higher than consensus of 22 cents.

YRC Worldwide (YRCW -2.07%) reported a Q1 EPS loss of -70 cents, a bigger loss than consensus of -49 cents.

Baidu (BIDU -8.55%) was downgraded to ‘Hold’ from ‘Buy’ at Jefferies.

Fluor (FLR -1.36%) reported Q1 EPS of 96 cents, below consensus of 98 cents.

Bloomberg reported that Monsanto (MON -0.90%) approached Syngenta (SYT -3.36%) regarding a takeover.

AIG (AIG -0.64%) reported Q1 EPS of $ 1.22, higher than consensus of $ 1.19.

Reuters reports that Intel talked about offering $ 58 per share for Altera (ALTR +2.36%) .

Expedia (EXPE -2.11%) climbed over 6% in after-hours trading after it unexpectedly reported a Q1 adjusted EPS loss of -3 cents, below consensus of a 9 cent profit, although Q1 revenue of $ 1.37 billion was above consensus of $ 1.35 billion.

Fortune Brands (FBHS -2.73%) reported Q1 EPS ex-items of 28 cents, weaker than consensus of 32 cents.

Visa (V -1.92%) reported Q2 EPS of 63 cents, above consensus of 62 cents.

Western Union (WU -0.54%) reported Q1 EPS of 39 cents, better than consensus of 38 cents.

Century Aluminum (CENX -1.60%) reported Q1 EPS of 76 cents, higher than consensus of 63 cents.

LinkedIn (LNKD -1.95%) plunged over 20% in after-hours trading after it reported Q1 EPS of 57 cents, better than consensus of 56 cents, but then lowered guidance on fiscal 2015 EPS to $ 1.90, well below consensus of $ 3.03.

Columbia Sportswear (COLM -1.55%) reported Q1 EPS of 37 cents, above consensus of 36 cents.

Gilead (GILD -1.77%) is up over 2% in pre-market trading after it reported Q1 adjusted EPS of $ 2.94, well above consensus of $ 2.32.

June E-mini S&Ps (ESM15 +0.41%) this morning are up +6.25 points (+0.30%). Thursday’s closes: S&P 500 -1.01%, Dow Jones -1.08%, Nasdaq -1.65%. The S&P 500 index on Thursday slid to a 1-1/2 week low and closed sharply lower on (1) tech stock weakness after Apple fell more than 2% on news of a defect in its watches, and (2) the weaker-than-expected U.S. Mar personal income and spending report of unchanged m/m and +0.4%, respectively. There was also concern that the Fed might raise rates sooner than earlier thought after initial weekly unemployment claims fell-34,000 to a 15-year low of 262,000.

Jun 10-year T-notes (ZNM15 -0.23%) this morning are down -7 ticks. Thursday’s closes: TYM5 -4.50, FVM5 -3.25. Jun 10-year T-notes on Thursday fell to a 1-1/2 month low and closed mildly lower on the sharp -34,000 decline in initial unemployment claims to a new 15-year low. There was also negative carry-over from the decline in German bund prices to a 1-1/2 month low.

The dollar index (DXY00 +0.05%) this morning is up +0.071 (+0.08%). EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is up +0.0044 (+0.39%) at a 2-moth high. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is up +0.43 (+0.39%). Dollar Index -0.609 (-0.64%), EUR/USD +0.00955 (+0.86%), USD/JPY +0.355 (+0.30%). The dollar index on Thursday fell to a 2-month low and closed with a fairly sharp loss as concern continues about the weak U.S. economic data and a delayed Fed tightening. Meanwhile, there was strength in EUR/USD on signs that Eurozone deflation risks are easing a bit after the Eurozone Apr CPI was unch y/y and ended four straight months of declines.

Jun WTI crude oil (CLM15 -0.20%) this morning is down -14 cents (-0.23%) and Jun gasoline (RBM15 -0.72%) is down -0.0163 (-0.80%). Thursday’s closes: CLM5 +1.05 (+1.79%), RBM5 +0.0355 (+1.76%). Jun crude oil on Thursday posted a new 4-1/2 month high on carry-over support from Wednesday’s news that Cushing oil inventories fell by -514,000 bbls, the first decline in 21 weeks.