Options Trading News

U.S. equity index futures are slightly higher ahead today's open, led by strength in the commodity markets after German Chancellor Angela Merkel left the door open to selling joint Eurozone bonds.

Euro/dollar futures moved slightly higher by 0.36 percent to 1.2572 on that news, while the U.S. Dollar Index fell to 81.27 from a multi-year high of 82.565 in early morning trading.  If the dollar continues to weaken, the markets could see a risk-on scenario as long as the 1320-22 levels remains firm in the S&P 500.

The SPX is up 1.50 points, or 0.11 percent, to 1324 while the Nasdaq 100 futures are higher by 5.50 points, or 0.23 percent, to 2542 as of this writing.

European indexes are mixed. The German DAX up 0.19 percent, but the U.K. FTSE 100 is down 0.28 percent and the CAC is off 0.18 percent. Asian indexes closed higher, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng higher by 0.25 percent and Japan's Nikkei up 0.20 percent.

The Hang Seng gains reflect strength in copper futures, which are up 0.83 percent to 3.457 after breaking the 3.45 resistance level. Gold futures are higher by 0.28 percent to 1564.10 and silver by 0.33 percent to 28.24.

Crude oil futures are up 0.47 percent to 91.08. If those contracts can break resistance at 91.50, oil could see a rush of buying into 92.

In company-specific news, Apple is rebounding from yesterday's losses and helping to carry the Nasdaq higher. Shares of U.S. banks are little-changed despite the bond news out of Europe.