U.S. futures are mixed this morning. In Europe, slim gains as markets look to respond to today's 8.5 billion euro Italian 3- and 10-year bond auction. Yields are lower than in November. The euro is down against the dollar. In Asia, markets are also looking to the Italian auction. The euro/yen hits a decade low. And the Shanghai Composite is slightly higher.
U.S. futures are mixed this morning. In Europe, the markets respond to Italy's 9 billion euro, 6-month Treasury bill auction -- the average yield is set at 3.251 percent. Italy plans to auction 8.5 billion euros in 3- and 10-year bonds Thursday. The German 2-year Shatz yield hits a record low. Very thin trading in Asia, as investors search for bargains. Most Asian stocks drop on European debt concerns. And China shares are flat after reversing earlier losses.
Christian Carrillo, Head of Asia-Pacific Interest Rate Strategy at Societe Generale Corporate & Investment Banking, says the Italian 3-year bond auction, not the 10-year bond, will go "reasonably well" despite the existing volatility.
Baroness Kramer, member of the parliamentary commission on banking standards, and Brooks Newmark, Conservative MP, discuss UK banking standards
Thursday, 20 Jun 2013 | 2:30 AM ETFrans Van Houton, CEO of Royal Philips, tells CNBC that he is focused on innovation, entrepreneurism and going for growth in the growth markets.
Thursday, 20 Jun 2013 | 2:20 AM ETMark Haefele, global head of investment at UBS Wealth Management, tells CNBC that Ben Bernanke is married to economic recovery so his decision on when to end stimulus is going to be data dependent.
No reason has been given yet for the departure of founder and executive chairman George Zimmer, reports CNBC's Courtney Reagan. Zimmer has long been the face of the company.
Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 10:52 AM ETCNBC's Rick Santelli, explains why he hears 'crickets" when he asks questions about Fed Chairman Bernanke's policies. "Enough is enough," he rants.
Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 11:36 AM ETAre reporters lobbing "softball" questions at the Fed chairman? CNBC's Rick Santelli and the Wall Street Journal's Jon Hilsenrath, debate whether the economy continues to need quantitative easing. I'm trying to inform the public about what the Fed is up to, says Hilsenrath.