- As traders reviewed a positive start to the corporate earnings season, which helped extend a surge in US markets, Asian equities were neutral and US equity contracts rose.
- Stocks in Japan and South Korea climbed, while those in Hong Kong sank. In the US, markets surged Tuesday after giving up nearly all of their gains the previous day, pushing the S&P 500 to back-to-back gains to begin the week.
- US equities futures rose on Wednesday after Netflix reported an increase in subscribers and United Airlines rose after reporting its results.
- Treasury rates were approaching multi-year highs prior to the release of September US housing statistics and the Fed's Beige Book. The 10-yr yield was 4.01%, down from 4.08% last week and the highest since 2008. Australian bonds fell somewhat.
- Japan's policymakers continued to hammer the yen, with Japan's Finance Minister Suzuki stating he is boosting the regularity with which he monitors foreign-exchange markets. The currency was trading at roughly 149 /dlr.
