US S&P futures slightly firmer but Nasdaq lower. European opened with modest gains and Asian's broadly higher. Bond yields mixed. US 10-year up 2 bps at 4.2%. Gilts off 1 bps at 4.5% after soft UK data. Dollar slightly firmer versus yen and sterling, softer elsewhere. Oil up. Gold edges higher. Industrial metals mixed. Bitcoin gains. Economists are aligning views with ECB Executive Board member Schnabel that next move in rates is likely to be a hike. Bloomberg survey of economists showed 60% of respondents think the ECB is more likely to raise rates than lower them, which is a meaningful shift from October when only a third shared that outlook. However, rate hikes will not likely come anytime soon with the majority expecting deposit rate to remain at 2% for the next two years. Rationale for extended period of unchanged policy is the improving macro backdrop.

Companies Mentioned: Destination XL Group, Citigroup, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Skydance