Benzinga | Jul 12, 2013 07:46AM ET
U.S. equity futures traded lower on renewed fears that Portugal could be the first nation to leave the eurozone after the recent political crisis has put in doubt the nation's attempts to meet its bailout goals. Meanwhile, key bank earnings before the bell should set the tone for U.S. trading.
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In other news around the markets:
Asian shares were mixed overnight as Chinese and Hong Kong shares lagged as Chinese Finance Minister Lou said that growth would come in closer to 7 percent this year but would avoid a hard landing. The Japanese Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.23 percent and the Topix Index gained 0.6 percent. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index dropped 0.75 percent while the Shanghai Composite Index slipped 1.62 percent. Also, the Korean Kospi fell 0.41 percent and Australian shares rose 0.16 percent.
European Markets
European shares were mixed as peripheral indexes fell on Portuguese fears. The Spanish Ibex Index declined 0.93 percent and the Italian FTSE MIB Index fell 0.06 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX rose 0.81 percent and the French CAC 40 Index rose 0.35 percent while U.K. shares gained 0.43 percent.
Commodities
Commodities were lower overnight as the dollar retraced some losses. WTI Crude futures fell 0.13 percent to $104.77 and Brent Crude futures declined 0.09 percent to $107.63 per barrel. Copper futures rose 1.89 percent to $314.95 per pound. Gold was lower and silver futures declined 0.93 percent to $19.77 per ounce.
Currencies
Currency markets were on the move as the dollar strengthened while the euro weakened on Portugal fears. The EUR/USD was lower at 1.3045 and the dollar rose against the yen to 99.02. Overall, the Dollar Index rose 0.26 percent on strength against the euro, the pound, the yen, and the Swiss franc.
Earnings Reported Yesterday
On the economics calendar Friday, the Reuters/University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index is expected to be released and Fed members Bullard, Plosser, and Williams are set to speak.
BY Matthew Kanterman
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