Morning Wire -- US Stock-Index Futures Follow Europe’s Rise

US stock futures are higher this morning following European markets, where a report from Germany on business confidence came in better than expected. In the US, a report on November housing starts is expected to show improvement, and that too is boosting futures. Trading volumes are expected to get lower as the Christmas and New Year’s holidays get closer, and aren’t expected to pick up again until after the beginning of the year.

At about 7:45 a.m. ET, Germany’s DAX is up 0.70% at 5,710.14 and France’s CAC 40 is up 0.83%, at 2,998.86. In London, the FTSE 100 is down -0.34%, at 5,346.77.

In Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index is up 0.06%, at 18,080.20. The Nikkei index is up 0.49%, at 8,336.48, and the Shanghai index is down -0.1%, at 2,215.93.

Dow futures are up 0.62%, at 11,776.00. The Nasdaq 100 is up 0.78%, at 2,229.75 and the S&P is up 0.88%, at 1,209.50.

In the currency markets, the US dollar is weaker against the euro, the British pound, and the Japanese yen.

In commodities, both WTI and Brent crude are higher this morning, with WTI at $94.95/barrel and Brent at $105.00/barrel. Gold is up 0.6%, at $1,606.30.