Uncertain Ceasefire View Caps Wall Street Pre-Bell; Asia, Europe Up
Wall Street futures wavered pre-bell Friday as traders awaited US-Iran ceasefire negotiations, slated to start Saturday in Pakistan.In the futures, the S&P 500 was steady, the Nasdaq inclined 0.1% and the Dow Jones was off 0.1%.West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures tracked in a relatively tight range, just under $98 a barrel.Investors also await the March consumer price index (CPI) report from Washington, due at 8:30 am ET, and sure to be parsed for clues of building inflationary pressures in the US economy.Asian exchanges traded mostly higher overnight, while European bourses tracked north midday on the continent, on Middle East ceasefire prospects.On the economic calendar, in addition to the CPI bulletin, is the University of Michigan consumer sentiment report for April, and the February factory orders release, at 10 am ET.The weekly Baker Hughes domestic oil-and-gas rig count logs at 1 pm.In pre-market action, bitcoin traded at $71,755, and 10-year US Treasuries offered 4.29%. Spot gold commanded $4,758 an ounce.