Live Index – Tue, 22 Dec 2015 Premarket

March E-mini S&Ps (ESH16 +0.02%) are up +0.02%and European stocks are up +0.09%% as crude oil prices (CLG16 +0.20%) gained +0.45% in overnight trading. European stocks also found support after German Dec GfK consumer confidence unexpectedly rose. Gains in stocks were limited as weaker metals prices undercut miners and raw-material producers. Asian stocks settled mixed: Japan -0.16%, Hong Kong +0.18%, China +0.26%, Taiwan +0.13%, Australia +0.15%, Singapore +0.26%, South Korea +0.71%, India -0.56%. China’s Shanghai Composite eked out a new 3-week high on positive carryover from Monday when the Chinese government signaled more stimulus measures.

The dollar index (DXY00 -0.12%) is down -0.13%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is up +0.26 % after German Nov import prices fell less than expected and German Dec GfK consumer confidence unexpectedly rose. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is down -0.21%.

Mar T-note prices (ZNH16 -0.02%) are down -2.5 ticks.

German Dec GfK consumer confidence unexpectedly rose +0.1 to 9.4, stronger than expectations of unch at 9.3.

The German Nov import price index fell -0.2% m/m and -3.5% y/y, a slower pace of decline than expectations of -0.2% m/m and -3.7% y/y.

Key U.S. news today includes: (1) Q3 GDP (expected revised to +1.9% from +2.1%), (2) Oct FHFA house price index (expected +0.5% m/m, Sep +0.8% m/m), (3) Nov existing home sales (expected -0.4% at 5.34 million, Oct -3.4% to 5.36 million), (4) Dec Richmond Fed manufacturing survey (expected +2 to -1, Nov -2 to -3).

There are 4 of the Russell 1000 companies that report earnings today: ConAgra Foods (consensus $ 0.60), Paychex (0.51), NIKE (0.86), Micron Technology (0.23).

U.S. IPO’s scheduled to price today: none.

Equity conferences this week: none.

Express Scripts Holdings (ESRX +1.78%) rose over 1% in pre-market trading after it gave guidance on fiscal 2016 adjusted EPS of $ 6.08-$ 6.28, above consensus of $ 6.05.

American Express (AXP +0.78%) was rated new ‘Market Perform’ at JMP Securities.

Chipolte Mexican Grill (CMG -3.52%) was downgraded to ‘Neutral’ from ‘Overweight’ at JPMorgan Chase.

Whiting Petroleum (WLL -8.58%) was downgraded to ‘Market Perform’ from ‘Outperform’ at BMO.

Alaska Air Group (ALK +3.19%) was downgraded to ‘Hod’ from ‘Buy’ at Stifel.

Box Inc. (BOX +0.36%) was rated new ‘Market Outperform’ at JMP Securities with a 12-month price target of $ 18.

NetApp (NTAP unch) said it will acquire SolidFire for $ 870 million.

Pfizer (PFE +1.47%) reported that a Phase 3 study of its Pristiq drug did demonstrate superior efficacy versus a placebo in pediatric patients ages 7 to 17 with Major Depressive Disorder.

Cintas (CTAS +0.80%) rallied over 1% in after-hours trading after it reported Q2 continuing operations EPS of $ 1.03, better than consensus of $ 1.00.

Steelcase (SCS +3.00%) slumped over 15% in after-hours trading after reported Q3 adjusted EPS of 30 cents, below consensus of 33 cents, and then lowered guidance on Q4 adjusted EPS to 20 cents-24 cents, weaker than consensus of 26 cents.

Stone Energy (SGY -14.36%) slid nearly 2% in after-hours trading after it lowered its Q4 production forecast to 23-24 Mboepd (thousand barrels of oil equivalents per day) from 25-26 Mboepd.

Alexza Pharmaceuticals (ALXA -2.22%) soared over 30% in after-hours trading after it said it was “encouraged” by data in a Phase 2a study of it AZ-002 drug being developed for the management of epilepsy in patients with acute repetitive seizures.

Mar E-mini S&Ps (ESH16 +0.02%) this morning are up +0.50 of a point (+0.02%). Monday’s closes: S&P 500 +0.78%, Dow Jones +0.72%, Nasdaq +1.01%. The S&P 500 on Monday closed higher on positive carryover from a +1.77% increase in China’s Shanghai Composite on speculation China may boost stimulus measures after a statement from the government’s Central Economic Work Conference said that monetary policy must be more “flexible” and fiscal policy more “forceful.” There was also strength in mining and raw-material producing stocks after metals prices rallied.

Mar 10-year T-notes (ZNH16 -0.02%) this morning are down -2.5 ticks. Monday’s closes: TYH6 +2.50, FVH6 +2.25. Mar T-notes on Monday settled higher on the fall in crude oil prices to a 6-3/4 year low, which undercuts inflation expectations, and on the weaker-than-expected Nov Chicago Fed national activity index. T-notes were undercut by a rally in stocks curbed the safe-haven demand for T-notes.

The dollar index (DXY00 -0.12%) this morning is down -0.132 (-0.13%). EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is up +0.0028 (+0.26%). USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is down -0.26 (-0.21%). Monday’s closes: Dollar Index -0.340 (-0.34%), EUR/USD +0.0047 (+0.43%), USD/JPY +0.03 (+0.02%). The dollar index on Monday closed lower on the weaker-than-expected Nov Chicago Fed national activity index, which fell to a 6-month low, and on strength in EUR/USD after Eurozone Dec consumer confidence unexpectedly climbed to a 6-month high.

Feb crude oil (CLG16 +0.20%) this morning is up +16 cents (+0.45%) and Feb gasoline (RBG16 -1.86%) is down -0.0237 (-1.95%). Monday’s closes: CLG6 +0.01 (+0.03%), RBG6 -0.0627 (-4.94%). Feb crude oil and gasoline on Monday settled mixed with nearest-futures (F16) crude at a new 6-3/4 year low and Feb gasoline at a 1-1/2 week low. Crude oil prices were undercut by concern that energy stockpiles may increase further as the above-normal winter temperatures in the U.S. reduce demand for heating fuels. Crude oil prices recovered from their worst levels as a weak dollar spurred short covering in crude futures.