U.S. equity indexes are lower this morning ahead of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's second day of testimony in Congress.
S&P 500 futures are down 3.75 points, or 0.28 percent, to 1354.75. Nasdaq 100 contracts are lower by 6.25 points, or 0.24 percent, to 2580.75. In currency markets, the euro/dollar is down 0.46 percent to 1.224.
European indexes are higher, with the German DAX gaining 0.22 percent and the U.K. FTSE 100 higher by 0.18 percent. Asian indexes fell, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng down 1.11 percent and Japan's Nikkei 225 off 0.31 percent after economic data in Asia came in soft.
Commodities are lower, with crude down 0.23 percent to 89.33. Spot gold prices have fallen 0.89 percent to 1575.20 after Bernanke failed announce further quantitative easing yesterday. Copper prices are down as well, by 0.27 percent to 3.4455.
Trading News
Related Stories
SPX
Stocks keep climbing before Bernanke
May 22, 2013
S&P 500 futures are up about one-tenth of a percent ahead of the Fed chairman's appearance before Congress. Most European indexes are modestly lower but have been climbing in the last hour.
SPX
Bernanke fears weigh on sentiment
May 21, 2013
Now that employment, housing, and the global economy have improved, investors are growing nervous that the central bank will become less accommodative.
SPX
Corporate earnings lead the calendar
May 21, 2013
Corporate earnings are the main item on today's agenda as retailers Home Depot, Best Buy, Saks, and TJX report quarterly results.
SPX
Equities pull back after record close
May 20, 2013
S&P 500 futures are down two-tenths of a percent. European indexes have been falling modestly since the open and remain little-changed overall. Asian markets rallied overnight, led by Hong Kong and Tokyo.
SPX
Chicago Fed data only calendar item
May 20, 2013
Today's only item is the Chicago Federal Reserve's index of economic activity at 8:30 a.m. ET. The report seldom moves broader sentiment.
