European markets consolidate positions, US futures down on Apple earnings

FXstreet.com (Barcelona) - European bourses are mostly consolidative despite upbeat figures in the Markit flash PMI for January and a wider than expected current account in the Eurozone. The German DAX 30 (-0.20%), the French CAC 40 (-0.05%) and the Spanish IBEX 35 (-0.01%) fall, while the Italian FTSE MIB is up by +0.10%, and the British FTSE 100 rises by +0.24%.

The Markit manufacturing flash PMI for the Eurozone is out, up from 46.1 to 47.5 (consensus of 46.8) in January, with the Composite figure climbing from 47.2 to 48.2 (consensus of 47.5), in its way to recovery.

The German manufacturing flash PMI in January was also upbeat, from 46.0 to 48.8 (consensus of 46.8). The Services figure accelerated its expansionary pace, from 52 to 55.3.

The seasonally adjusted current account surplus came in wider than expected, from ¬11B to ¬14.8B in November (consensus of ¬7.0B).

Futures for the American S&P 500 (-0.23%) and the Nasdaq 100 (-1.28%) are signaling a lower opening despite the passing of the US Senate bill to suspend the debt ceiling by three months. Gloomy earnings by Apple are taking its toll on investors' sentiment. WTI crude oil trades at $95.59 (+0.35%) and Gold drops to $1679.17 (-0.32%).