December S&P 500 E-Mini futures are up +0.10% this morning, aiming to close the week positively. Lower bond yields are boosting U.S. equity futures. In yesterday’s trading, major indices closed in the red, with Dell and Micron among the losers. Delta Air Lines, on the other hand, climbed more than +4% after reporting upbeat Q3 results.

Fed officials Michael Barr and John Williams voiced differing opinions on further rate cuts. Rate futures indicate a 94.6% chance of a 25 basis point rate cut in October. The U.S. government shutdown has reached its tenth day, with no resolution in sight. Some furloughed employees will return to work to publish inflation data next week.

Investors await the release of the University of Michigan’s U.S. Consumer Sentiment Index. Economists predict a slight decline in the preliminary October figure. Market participants will also listen to comments from Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee and St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note is at 4.117%, down -0.84%.

The Euro Stoxx 50 Index is down -0.09% as investors await French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement of a new prime minister. Energy and mining stocks are underperforming, while automobile stocks rebound. Italy’s industrial production fell sharply in August. Energiekontor AG plunged over -18% after cutting its earnings guidance.

Italy’s Industrial Production data showed declines, weaker than expected. Asian stock markets closed in the red, with China’s Shanghai Composite Index and Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Index dropping. China’s Shanghai Composite Index retreated from a 10-year high amid geopolitical tensions.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Index closed lower, tracking losses on Wall Street. Energy and materials stocks led the declines. Japan’s September PPI rose above expectations. Pre-market U.S. stock movers include Intel, Applied Digital, and Elastic N.V. Qualcomm fell after China opened an antitrust probe.

Today’s U.S. Earnings Spotlight features no companies. Data on U.S. consumer sentiment and Fed officials’ remarks drive market sentiment. Global geopolitical tensions impact Asian stock markets. Italy and Japan report industrial production data. U.S. pre-market movers include Intel and Qualcomm.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: S&P Futures Tick Higher With Focus on U.S. Confidence Data and Fed Speak