US stocks are expected to see gains of 0.3%, on average, at the start of trading today. That comes on the back of what at first glance appears to have been mixed macroeconomic figures and as the European Central Bank´s President, Mario Draghi, speaks.

Not to be forgotten, investors are waiting on tomorrow´s monthly employment report.

The trade deficit expanded by more than was expected in January, to reach -$44.45bn versus -$38.5bn in the month before. The consensus estimate had been for a reading of -$38.5bn.

Initial weekly unemployment claims dropped by 4,000 last week, to reach 340,000 (Consensus: 355,000).

Labour productivity fell at a 1.9% annualized rate in the last three months of 2012 (Consensus: -1.6%).

Crude futures rise as risk appetite inches higher

Front month West Texas crude futures are now gaining by 0.96% to the $91.30 per barrel mark on the NYMEX.

10 year US Treasury yields are rising by 3 basis points to the 1.98% mark.

AB

Related share prices