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☆ Premarket stocks: The rent is too damn high. It’s keeping interest rates elevated, too
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

In short, the rent is too damn high — and it’s keeping inflation and interest rates elevated alongside it. We’ll see if they’re right on Tuesday morning when February’s CPI data is due out. “Shelter inflation has been a big focal point for the market,” they wrote in a note on Monday. “We remain confident that [rent prices] will flatline in 2024, rather than fall,” Capital Economics analyst Thomas Ryan wrote in a recent note. That means a current deceleration in rent prices won’t be fully factored into inflation data until February 2025.

Persons: Greg McBride, ”, Jerome Powell, “ It’s, Powell, aren’t, “, Thomas Ryan, Ritti Singh, Singh, won’t, isn’t, Goldman Sachs, Clare Duffy, Reddit, it’s, That’s, Matt Egan, Joe Biden, Bespoke’s Paul Hickey, ” Hickey Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Federal Reserve, CPI, Bank of America, ” Capital, Housing Justice, Fed, Dallas Fed, AAA, Federal, Investment Locations: New York

☆ Stock futures are flat after major averages claw back some of this week's losses: Live updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange on Jan. 29, 2024. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped about 10 points, while S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq-100 futures were little changed. All major averages finished higher Wednesday following back-to-back losing sessions. Nine of the 11 major S&P sectors finished higher, led to the upside by utilities. Investors monitored the first of Fed Chair Powell's appearances on Capitol Hill this week for more insight on the path ahead for interest rate cuts.

Persons: Jerome Powell's, Powell, Adam Sarhan Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Stock, Federal, Capitol Hill, Futures, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Dow Jones Industrial, New York Community Bancorp, Apple, Investors, Fed, Capitol, Financial Services Committee, Investments, Broadcom, Costco Wholesale, Kroger Locations: New, February's

☆ Stock futures are little changed Tuesday night as investors await fresh inflation data: Live updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 41 points, or 0.1%. S&P 500 futures pulled back 0.04%, while Nasdaq 100 futures slid 0.08%. In Tuesday's regular session, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite ended the day with small gains, up 0.17% and 0.37%, respectively. The S&P 500 and the Dow are off the highs they just notched late last week, but investors may want to think twice before they aggressively ramp up on equities. On Wednesday, investors will look to earnings results from retailer The TJX Cos. and pharmaceutical name Viatris in the morning.

Persons: Dow, Drew Pettit, hasn't, Cos, Salesforce Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Stock, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, eBay, Urban Outfitters, Citi

☆ Stock futures are little changed on Sunday night after a record week for the S&P 500: Live updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., February 6, 2024. U.S. stock futures hovered near the flatline on Sunday night following a record-setting week for the S&P 500 . On Friday, the S&P 500 rose 0.57% to close above the 5,000 level for the first time, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite added 1.25%. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite added 1.4% and 2.3%, respectively. Some 61 names in the S&P 500 are set to report earnings in the week ahead, including gig economy stocks Lyft , Instacart and DoorDash .

Persons: Kraft, Jay Hatfield, Hatfield Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Dow Jones Industrial, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Dow, Kraft Heinz, Hasbro, Capital Advisors, Traders, CPI, PPI, CNBC Locations: New York City, U.S

☆ European markets set for higher open despite unclear rate cut outlook
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

European markets are heading for a higher open Tuesday as investor confidence remains robust despite the lack of a clear timetable for interest rate cuts. Regional markets closed slightly lower Monday as investors digested the latest comments from U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell in which he said the central bank would likely move at a considerably slower pace on rate cuts than the market expects. Overnight, China and Hong Kong stocks jumped Tuesday as authorities in the world's second-largest economy took measures to arrest a recent sell-off in its equities, while most Asia-Pacific markets declined. Meanwhile, U.S. stock futures hovered near the flatline overnight following a sell-off spurred by higher bond yields and worries that the Fed may not cut rates as much as Wall Street had hoped.

Persons: Jerome Powell Organizations: U.S . Federal Locations: U.S, China, Hong Kong, Asia, Pacific

☆ Stock futures are little changed after S&P 500 and Dow slide from record highs: Live updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

S&P 500 futures also inched down 0.1%, while Nasdaq 100 futures slipped just 0.03%. During Monday's main trading session, the S&P 500 lost 0.32%, pulling back from its record high from last week that was powered by megacap tech stocks. "There's a lot of momentum, but I'm worried about [the S&P 500 at] 20 times earnings, and that the Fed's not going to live up to [rate] cut expectations. And I don't see how we get double-digit earnings growth," Doll said on CNBC's "Closing Bell: Overtime" on Monday. On the economic front Tuesday, Wall Street will be keeping an eye out for the New York Fed's household debt and credit report for the fourth quarter.

Persons: Dow, Jerome Powell, Bob Doll, Doll, — I'm, Loretta Mester, Susan Collins, Eli Lilly, Amgen Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Federal Reserve, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Palantir Technologies, NXP, Crossmark, Investments, New, Cleveland Fed, Boston Fed, Boeing, Spirit, DuPont, Grill, Ford Locations: New York

☆ S&P 500 futures gain after Meta, Amazon results as jobs report looms: Live updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

On the other hand, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures hovered near the flatline. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.97%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite respectively gained 1.25% and 1.3%. The action follows a Wednesday sell-off that started after Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell indicated that a rate cut at the March meeting was unlikely. Economists polled by Dow Jones are calling for payrolls to have grown by 185,000 positions, and for the unemployment rate to inch higher to 3.8%. That compares to December's blowout of 216,000 positions added and an unemployment rate of 3.7%.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Art Hogan, It's, it's, Hogan, Dow Jones Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, Dow Jones Industrial, Meta, Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Dow Jones, Federal, Riley Wealth Management, CNBC, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Myers Squibb Locations: China, mull, Bristol, Cigna

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Tech earnings not good enough for Wall Street
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock ExchangeThis report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Wall Street ends mixedU.S. stocks closed mixed on Tuesday as Wall Street looked ahead to the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. [PRO] Bank stocks back on radarInvestors need to overcome their fear of bank stocks created by last year's deposit outflows and regional bank failures, said Oppenheimer. Analyst Chris Kotowski, noted bank stocks are "significantly undervalued," adding even mid-size banks that struggled in 2023 could see their underlying business rebound.

Persons: Elon Musk, Tesla, Oppenheimer, Chris Kotowski Organizations: New York Stock, CNBC, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Microsoft, Software, Activision Blizzard, Tesla, Bank Locations: Delaware

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Tech earnings not impressing Wall Street
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Asia stocks mixedAsia-Pacific markets were mixed Wednesday ahead of the interest rate decision from the U.S. Federal Reserve. Overnight, U.S. stocks also closed mixed. Alphabet, Microsoft disappointWall Street wasn't too impressed with the quarterly results from tech giants Alphabet and Microsoft.

Persons: Elon Musk, Tesla, Goldman Sachs Organizations: CNBC, U.S . Federal, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Microsoft, Tesla Locations: Asia, Pacific, China, Delaware

☆ Europe narrowly avoids a recession
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Europe’s economy avoided ending 2023 in a recession by the narrowest of margins, official data showed Tuesday. In the July-to-September quarter, GDP dipped 0.1%. Europe’s economy has struggled to regain momentum following the pandemic, hamstrung by high inflation and rapid interest rate hikes to combat it. The French economy, Europe’s second-largest, stagnated in the fourth quarter but grew 0.7% over the whole of 2023. He expects the eurozone economy to “flatline” in the first half of 2024 “as the effects of past monetary tightening continue to feed through and fiscal policy becomes more restrictive.”

Persons: —, Russia’s, ‘, Christoph Weil, ”, ” “, Jack Allen, Reynolds, “ Organizations: London CNN, Gross, Eurostat, Union, EU, ’, Commerzbank, European Central Bank, Capital Economics, ECB Locations: Ukraine, Europe, Italy, Spain

☆ Nasdaq 100 futures slide, Alphabet shares drop after results: Live updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Futures tied to the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 fell Tuesday night after a pair of mega-cap tech companies posted their quarterly results. Futures tied to the S&P 500 were down 0.4%, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures traded near the flatline. In after-hours trading, shares of Alphabet dropped 5.3%, while Microsoft shed 0.3% after the tech giants posted quarterly earnings. The fed funds futures market has priced in a nearly 98% probability that the central bank will leave rates unchanged, according to the CME FedWatch tool. Chipmaker Qualcomm is scheduled to announce its quarterly earnings after the close.

Persons: Sam Stovall, —, Stovall, Dow, Jerome Powell's Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, Federal, Dow Jones Industrial, Microsoft, Fed, Dow, Boeing, Qualcomm Locations: New York City, U.S

☆ Alabama executes a man with nitrogen gas, the first time the new method has been used
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Kim Chandler | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

It marked the first time that a new execution method has been used in the United States since lethal injection, now the most commonly used method, was introduced in 1982. After a chance to make a final statement, the warden, from another room, would activate the nitrogen gas. And experts appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council cautioned they believe the execution method could violate the prohibition on torture. Three states — Alabama, Mississippi and Oklahoma — have authorized nitrogen hypoxia as an execution method, but no state had attempted to use the untested method until now. Smith's attorneys had raised concerns that he could choke to death on his own vomit as the nitrogen gas flows.

Persons: —, Kenneth Eugene Smith, Smith, gurney, I'm, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Jeff Hood, Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Hood, he's, Elizabeth Sennett, Sennett, Charles Sennett Jr, Mama, Charles Sennett, John Forrest Parker Organizations: Alabama, Service, —, U.S, Supreme, Justice, Prosecutors, WAAY, Catholic, Human Locations: Ala, — Alabama, Alabama, United States, Vatican, Rome, Mississippi, Oklahoma

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Intel, T-Mobile, American Express and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The company now expects revenue in the range of $12.2 billion to $13.2 billion, while analysts polled by LSEG forecast $14.16 billion. American Express — Shares added 3% after the company issued full-year guidance that topped expectations, although its fourth-quarter results were weaker than expected. American Express is anticipating full-year earnings between $12.65 to $13.15 per share, versus the StreetAccount consensus estimate of $12.38 per share. T-Mobile — The telecommunications company declined 2% after posting mixed fourth-quarter results. T-Mobile posted $20.48 billion in revenue, ahead of a $19.67 billion forecast.

Persons: Levi Strauss –, Coinbase, Oppenheimer, Macheel, Brian Evans, Sarah Min, Michelle Fox, Jesse Pound Organizations: Intel, LSEG, American, Mobile, FactSet, Western Digital, KLA Corporation, Wall, Deutsche Bank, Colgate, Palmolive, Capital, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

☆ Alabama execution using nitrogen gas, the first ever, again puts U.S. at front of death penalty debate
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

It marked the first time a new execution method was used in the U.S. since 1982, when lethal injection was introduced and later became the most common method. The state had predicted the nitrogen gas would cause unconsciousness within seconds and death within minutes. After he had a chance to make a final statement, the warden, from another room, was to activate the nitrogen gas. And experts appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council cautioned they believe the execution method could violate the prohibition on torture. Smith's attorneys had raised concerns that he could choke to death on his own vomit as the nitrogen gas flows.

Persons: Abraham Bonowitz, Kenneth Smith, Kenneth Eugene Smith, Smith, gurney, Kay Ivey, Elizabeth Sennett, Ivey, Elizabeth Sennett's, Mike Sennett, Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Steve Marshall, John Q, Hamm, Jeff Hood, Hood, Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, he's, Sennett, John Forrest Parker, Charles Sennett Organizations: Holman Correctional, Alabama Gov, European Union, Human, EU, U.S, Supreme, State, Justice, Catholic, Prosecutors Locations: Columbus , Ohio, Holman, Atmore , Alabama, U.S, Alabama, United States, Geneva, gurney, Hamm, Vatican, Rome, Mississippi, Oklahoma

The execution will be the first attempt to use a new execution method since the 1982 introduction of lethal injection, now the most common execution method in the United States. After he is given a chance to make a final statement, the warden, from another room, will activate the nitrogen gas. Three states — Alabama, Mississippi and Oklahoma — have authorized nitrogen hypoxia as an execution method, but no state has attempted to use the untested method until now. They stabbed her — multiple times.”The state has predicted the nitrogen gas will cause unconsciousness within seconds and death within minutes. Much of what is known about death by nitrogen gas comes from industrial accidents or suicide attempts.

Persons: Kenneth Eugene Smith, Smith, “, ”, Jeff Hood, Elizabeth Sennett, Sennett, gurney, Steve Marshall, Liz Sennett, Smith’s, ” Marshall, Charles Sennett Jr, Smith “, Mama, Robin M, Maher, Philip Nitschke, Nitschke, ” Nitschke, Robert Grass, Charles Sennett, John Forrest Parker Organizations: United States, Supreme, U.S, Prosecutors, WAAY, Circuit, Alabama, Associated Press, Veterinary Medical Association, United Nations Human Rights Locations: MONTGOMERY, Ala, Alabama, United, United States, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Colbert County

Alabama on Thursday is expected to perform the first execution in the U.S. with nitrogen gas, barring any last-minute intervention from courts or the state. I remain confident that the Supreme Court will come down on the side of justice, and that Smith’s execution will be carried out tomorrow,” Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said on social media on Wednesday. What Is a Nitrogen Gas Execution? The execution involves a mask that will be strapped to Smith’s face and deliver nitrogen gas. Alabama is one of three states where nitrogen hypoxia is an authorized execution method, but it’s the first to attempt to use it.

Persons: Kenneth Smith, Smith, Smith’s, Steve Marshall, Kenneth Eugene Smith, Ravina Shamdasani, Elizabeth Sennett, Charles Sennett Organizations: U.S, Supreme, United Nations, Records Locations: Alabama, U.S, United States, America

☆ Here’s what analysts are expecting from Tesla earnings
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Analysts are largely cautious on Tesla — and the broader autos industry — ahead of the electric vehicle company's earnings on Wednesday. TSLA 1Y mountain Tesla shares over the past year. "There is continually growing evidence that the global EV market is in an unfavorable balance of supply (growing) vs. demand (slowing)." The analyst rates Tesla stock a buy with a $260 price target. Higher units likely require more price cuts," analyst Joseph Spak forecasted about Tesla's earnings in a Jan. 15 note.

Persons: Tesla, outsized, John Murphy, Murphy, Wells, Colin Langan, Langan, Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley, Adam Jonas, Jonas, Emmanuel Rosner, Rosner, Joseph Spak Organizations: Tesla, Bank of America, Deutsche Bank Deutsche Bank Research, UBS UBS, UBS Locations: China, Tuesday's, Downside, Wells Fargo, Europe

The Alabama attorney general's office told federal appeals court judges last week that nitrogen hypoxia is "the most painless and humane method of execution known to man." The execution would be the first attempt to use a new method since lethal injection was introduced in 1982. Three states — Alabama, Mississippi and Oklahoma — have authorized nitrogen hypoxia as an execution method. The Alabama attorney general's office noted that Smith, when previously fighting lethal injection, had suggested nitrogen as an alternative execution method. Courts require inmates challenging their execution method to suggest an alternative method.

Persons: Kenneth Eugene Smith, gurney, general's, Smith, Dr, Jeffrey Keller, ” Keller, Keller, Joel Zivot, Zivot, Prosecutors, Elizabeth Sennett, Sennett, John Forrest Parker, Charles Sennett Jr, Smith “, Mama, ”, Robin M, Maher, Kenny, Jeff Hood, “, Shane Isner, Kay Ivey, Ivey Organizations: American College of Correctional Physicians, Veterinary Medical Association, United Nations Human Rights, ”, U.S . Chemical Safety, Hazard Investigation, WAAY, Alabama, Christian Church, Capitol, Alabama Gov, Associated Press, Department of Corrections Locations: MONTGOMERY, Ala, Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, U.S

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama is preparing to use a new method of execution: nitrogen gas. The state maintains that nitrogen gas will cause unconsciousness quickly but critics have likened the never-used method of execution to human experimentation. In 2018, Alabama became the third state — along with Oklahoma and Mississippi — to authorize the use of nitrogen gas to execute prisoners. If the Alabama execution goes forward, other states may seek to start to using nitrogen gas. If the execution is blocked by the court or botched, it could halt or slow the pursuit of nitrogen gas as an alternative execution method.

Persons: Kenneth Eugene Smith, Smith, —, gurney, general’s, Walter LaGrand, Prosecutors, Elizabeth Sennett Organizations: NIOSH, United Nations Human Rights, Veterinary Medical Association, WHO, Alabama, U.S, Supreme, Circuit Locations: MONTGOMERY, Ala, Alabama, Oklahoma, Mississippi, United States, U.S, Arizona

☆ European stocks head for higher open as Davos draws to close; UK retail sales drop
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, comes to a close after drawing a raft of business leaders, politicians, central bankers and campaigners. U.K. retail sales disappointed Friday, coming down by 3.2% in December, significantly more than expected. It was the largest monthly fall since January 2021, when pandemic measures restricted sales, the Office for National Statistics said. The technology sector drove a solid rally Thursday, after Bank of America analysts upgraded their Apple rating to "buy." Asia-Pacific stocks were also higher, with TSMC surging and Japanese inflation cooling to its lowest level since June 2022.

Persons: Read Organizations: Economic, European Central Bank, National Statistics, U.S, Congress, Bank of America Locations: Davos, Switzerland, Asia, Pacific

☆ 10-year Treasury yield passes 1.5% as investors digest the jobs data beat
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Katrina Bishop | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Treasury yields continued to edge higher on early Friday as investors digested the latest jobs data and comments by officials of the Federal Reserve. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note had ticked higher by 1 basis point to 4.157% at 2:30 a.m. The 2-year Treasury yield was hovering around the flatline, trading near 4.3548%. Data points scheduled for release include existing home sales for December and preliminary consumer sentiment data. One basis point equals 0.01%.

Organizations: Federal Reserve

Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesHood and a correctional officer will be in the execution chamber when the warden activates the nitrogen gas system from an adjoining room. Witnesses, including attorneys, media witnesses and witnesses for the victim, will be watching the execution through windows from other adjoining rooms. Nitrogen gas makes up 78% of the air inhaled by humans and is harmless when inhaled with proper levels of oxygen. But nitrogen gas can become quickly deadly when it displaces adequate levels of oxygen. And the experts agree that nitrogen hypoxia is painless because it causes unconsciousness in seconds," the state argued.

Persons: Jeff Hood, Kenneth Smith, Smith, Hood, “ Smith, Elizabeth Sennett Organizations: The Alabama Department of Corrections, Prosecutors, Alabama Department of Corrections Locations: MONTGOMERY, Ala, Alabama

☆ Stock futures are little changed on Tuesday evening: Live updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. Stock futures were flat in overnight trading following a losing session to kick off the holiday-shortened trading week. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average hovered near the flatline, along with S&P 500 futures . Interactive Brokers lost nearly 3% in extended trading after posting fourth quarter adjusted earnings that fell short of expectations. The Federal Reserve's beige book and business inventories for November are also slated for Wednesday, along with remarks from New York Federal Reserve Bank President and CEO John Williams.

Persons: Stocks, Christopher Waller, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Jeffrey Buchbinder, Dow Jones, Charles Schwab, John Williams Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Stock, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Interactive, Federal Reserve, Dow, Bank of America, LPL, U.S . Bancorp, New York Federal Reserve Bank Locations: New York, New

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Attorneys for the first inmate slated to be put to death with nitrogen gas have asked a federal appeals court to block the execution scheduled later this month in Alabama. Kenneth Eugene Smith’s attorneys on Monday asked the 11th U.S. The question of whether Alabama will ultimately be allowed to attempt the nation’s first execution using nitrogen gas could end up before the U.S. Supreme Court. Smith’s attorneys appealed a judge’s Jan. 10 decision to let the execution go forward. The low-oxygen environment could cause nausea leading Smith to choke to death on his own vomit, his attorneys argued.

Persons: Kenneth Eugene Smith’s, Smith, ”, general’s, gurney, Prosecutors, Elizabeth Sennett, John Forrest Parker Organizations: Monday, Circuit, U.S, Supreme, Alabama Supreme Locations: MONTGOMERY, Ala, Alabama, U.S, Mississippi, Oklahoma

☆ Asia markets slide as investors assess private factory activity surveys; U.S. inflation cools further
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Neon ads in Dotonbori district, Osaka, Kansai region, Japan Alexander Spatari | Moment | Getty ImagesAsia-Pacific markets started Friday lower even as Wall Street mostly saw gains and ahead of private factory activity surveys from across the region. Most notably, investors will be watching China's Caixin manufacturing purchasing managers' index for November, after official numbers Thursday showed the country's manufacturing sector contracting for a second straight month. PMI readings are also due from Japan, South Korea and India on Friday. Japan's Nikkei 225 was marginally below the flatline, but the Topix bucked the trend and opened 0.21% higher. Futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index stood at 17,052, also pointing to a positive open compared with the HSI's close of 17,042.88.

Persons: Japan Alexander Spatari, Kospi Organizations: PMI, Nikkei Locations: Dotonbori district, Osaka, Kansai, Japan, Asia, Pacific, South Korea, India, Australia

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