Global Stock Markets Mixed In Quieter Trading

(Kitco News) - World stock markets were mixed in quieter trading overnight. U.S. stock indexes are pointed toward weaker openings when the New York day session begins, on some mild profit taking. The U.S. stock indexes have set record highs this week.

Gold prices are higher in pre-U.S.-session trading. Gold prices are still in a near-term uptrend despite some profit-taking pressure seen this week.

In overnight news, the Euro zone reported its July industrial output rose by 0.1% from June and was up 3.2%, year-on-year.

The key outside markets on Wednesday morning see the U.S. dollar index near steady. Meantime, Nymex crude oil futures are higher this morning.

U.S. economic data due for release Wednesday includes the weekly MBA mortgage applications survey, the producer price index, the weekly DOE liquid energy stock report and the monthly Treasury budget statement.

The key U.S. economic data point of the week is Thursday's consumer price index report for August. That report is expected to show a rise of 0.4%. Notions are growing that low inflation in the U.S. and the Euro zone will keep the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank from tightening their monetary policies as soon as they would like.

By Jim Wyckoff, contributing to Kitco News; [email protected]
Follow Jim Wyckoff @jimwyckoff for breaking news.