THE DAY AHEADFebruary 18
*Stocks were mixed in Asian trade. Shanghai was down more than 0.9%, but the Hang Seng rose one and a quarter percent and the Nikkei and Australia were essentially unchanged. Mixed results so far in Europe as well; currently the Footsie is down more than 0.4%, but the Dax is up about 0.2%. US stock futures are unchanged as I write.
*The January reading of Japan’s Nationwide Department Store Sales was down 1.1% on a year over year basis.
*The January reading of Germany’s Producer Price Index were up 1.2% on a month on month basis, double the forecast.
*The January reading of UK Retail Sales was +1.9% on a month on month basis, almost four times the expected gain. However the previous month was revised down to -1.4% from -0.8% on a monthly basis.
*ECB council member Bini Smaghi says ECB may raise rates as price pressures mount., saying that the ECB has “repeatedly communicated its alertness.”
*Fed boss Bernanke is scheduled to speak in Paris at 7:00am CST about global imbalances and financial stability; there will be Q and A following his prepared remarks.
*The Fed is scheduled to buy Treasuries today that are due to mature between 8/31/13 and 2/15/15; the results of the operation will be announced just after 10:00am CST.
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