Morning Wire -- Futures Rising on Expected Good News on US Manufacturing

US stock futures are higher this morning, as markets look to end a three-day streak of losses. European markets are also higher, but Asian markets are down on news that China’s PMI was down and that commodities prices are falling. There will be a new report on US first-time jobless benefits claims before markets open this morning. The estimate calls for a rise from 381,000 last week to 390,000. The Empire State and Philadelphia Fed manufacturing indexes are due at 8:30 a.m. ET and 10:00 a.m. ET, respectively. Both are expected to improve somewhat, showing continued expansion in manufacturing. The euro is gaining strength against the dollar, but weakening slightly versus the Japanese yen and the British pound.

At about 7:30 a.m. ET, Germany’s DAX is up 0.83% at 5,722.41 and France’s CAC 40 is up 0.53%, at 2,991.85. In London, the FTSE 100 is up 0.58%, at 5,398.06.

In Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index is down -1.78%, at 18,026.80. The Nikkei index is down -1.66%, at 8,377.37, and the Shanghai index is down -2.14%, at 2,180.90.

Dow futures are up 0.43%, at 11,812.00. The Nasdaq 100 is up 0.34%, at 2,236.00 and the S&P is up 0.46%, at 1,211.80.

In the currency markets, the euro is up against the US dollar and the US dollar is down slightly against the pound and the yen.

In commodities, both WTI and Brent crude are higher this morning, with WTI at $95.27/barrel and Brent at $105.76/barrel. Gold is up 0.25%, at $1,590.80.