Microsoft, Amazon earnings cheer investors as stocks rally

Commodities

Crude oil in New York settled up 1.22 percent to $97.11 a barrel, while gold traded up 1.22 percent to $1,350.80. Silver traded up 0.48 percent Thursday to $22.73, while copper fell 0.40 percent to $3.25.

 

Euro zone

 European shares  were higher  today. The Spanish Ibex Index rose 0.54 percent, while Italy's FTSE MIB Index gained 0.46 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX climbed 0.61 percent and the French CAC 40 rose 0.18 percent while U.K. shares gained 0.57 percent.

 

Economics

 US jobless claims declined by 12,000 to 350,000 in the week ended October 19. However, economists were projecting claims to drop to 340,000. The US trade deficit increased to $38.8 billion in August, versus a revised $38.6 billion in the previous month. However, economists were expecting the deficit to widen to $39.4 billion. 

 

The preliminary reading of the Markit flash manufacturing PMI for the United States fell to 51.1 in October, versus a reading of 52.8 in September. However, economists were expecting a reading of 52.5.

 

The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index declined to -36.10 for the week ended October 20, versus a prior reading of -34.10.

 

The Kansas City Fed manufacturing index will be released at 11:00 a.m. ET.

 

The Treasury is set to auction 3-and 6-month bills. The Treasury will also auction 2-year, 5-year and 7-year notes. Data on money supply will be released at 4:30 p.m. ET.