STOCKS/ECONOMY
-Stock futures are mostly flat after Tuesday's 124-point gain for the Dow, larger 0.6 percent advance for the S&P 500, and a 0.6 percent rise for the Nasdaq. Investors are awaiting a key inflation report later this morning as they prepare for the Thanksgiving break.
-That report is the personal consumption expenditures price index, which the Fed often considers to be the most important gauge for inflation. Economists expect that number to come in at a 2.8 percent increase, year-over-year.
-The yield on the 10-year Treasury bond is down to 4.26 percent.
-The average 30-year mortgage rate fell to 6.86 percent from 6.90 percent the week before. That pushed applications for new mortgages up by 12 percent, but refinance applications still fell by 3 percent.
-Gold is up to the $2,676 per ounce level. Bitcoin is at the $93,200 level.
-Asian markets closed mixed, with big gains for Chinese markets. The Hang Seng rallied 2.3 percent higher, and the Shenzhen also rose by 2.3 percent. The Nikkei fell 0.8 percent.
-Chinese markets rallies were spurred by investor hopes for more economic stimulus from the ruling regime in Beijing after China's industrial profits showed a significant drop from last year.
OIL/ENERGY
-U.S. crude prices are mostly flat and at the $68 a barrel level.
-Gasoline prices are up another penny to $3.07 a gallon, national average.
EARNINGS SCORECARD
-Dell Technologies (DELL) reported better than expected quarterly profits, but missed revenue expectations and issued weaker than expected current quarter guidance. Dell shares are down 12 percent in the premarket.
-Nordstrom (JWN) reported better than expected quarterly revenues, and issued a slightly better than expected full-year sales outlook. But its shares are still down slightly in the premarket.
-Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike (CRWD) reported better than expected quarterly revenues and raised its full-year profit and revenue forecasts. This is despite that massive outage on July 19 that affected many major retailers and airlines. Investors are still skeptical for the moment, as Crowdstrike shares are down 4 percent in the premarket.
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