· Stock futures slightly up after markets reach record highs and S&P 500 tops 3,700
U.S. stock futures rose slightly early Wednesday, building on recent strength that’s pushed the major averages to record highs.
Dow futures rose 64 points, while the S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures were both in positive territory.
On Tuesday, the Dow climbed about 104 points, helped by gains in Dow Inc. and Johnson & Johnson. The 30-stock Dow closed just slightly below its record from Friday and well above the 30,000 level.
The S&P 500 also registered gained of 0.28%, closing at a record high. The 500 stock index closed above 3,700 for the first time.
The Nasdaq Composite also notched a record close after rallying 0.5%, fueled by cloud stocks. All of the major averages started in negative territory on Tuesday.
· Stock market bull run continues, sterling faces Brexit test
Asian shares rose to a record high and U.S. stock futures gained on Wednesday as investors tracked positive news on COVID-19 vaccines and ongoing efforts to launch more fiscal stimulus.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.65%. At one point the index reached 647.78, an all-time peak.
MSCI’s gauge of stocks across the globe also hit a record high.
The British pound was little changed before make-or-break talks on a trade deal between Britain and the European Union.
· Nikkei ends at near 30-year high on recovery hopes, upbeat machinery data
Japanese shares closed at a near 30-year high on Wednesday, as Britain's COVID-19 vaccine rollout and seeming progress over a U.S. stimulus deal boosted hopes of a swift global economic recovery, while upbeat domestic machinery data also buoyed sentiment.
The benchmark Nikkei share average rose 1.33% to 26,817.94, its highest closing since April 17, 1991. The broader Topix rose 1.17% to 1,779.42.
· China shares end lower on Sino-U.S. tensions; securities firms drop
China shares closed lower on Wednesday, led by losses in securities firms, as concerns over Sino-U.S. relations weighed on sentiment.
At the close, the Shanghai Composite index was down 1.12% at 3,371.96.
The blue-chip CSI300 index was down 1.34%, with its sub-index tracking securities firms lower by 3.11%, the consumer staples sector down 0.92%, the real estate index down 1.35% and the healthcare sub-index down 1.12%.
· European markets open higher as focus remains on Brexit talks
European stocks opened higher on Wednesday as market focus in the region remains firmly on the progress of post-Brexit trade deal talks between the EU and U.K.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 index opened 0.3% higher.
Market attention is focused on the state of Brexit talks this week. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will head to Brussels later Wednesday in a last-ditch attempt to secure a Brexit trade deal. He will meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after negotiators failed to make significant progress when talks resumed on Monday.
Reference: Reuters, CNBC
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