OREANDA-NEWS. August 23, 2011. US stocks inched up on Monday with Financials (-1.16%) and Oil&Gas as laggards and Telecommunications (+0.84%) as the leaders. S&P 500 index added 0.03%, Russell 2000 Index – lost 0.06%. EURUSD finished the day near 1.44. VIX closed at 42.44. Report that Goldman Sachs CEO had retained counsel, drove bank’s shares down.

Asian markets rose on Tuesday as HSBC PMI topped expectations. Hang Seng added 0.94%, Nikkei – was up 1.22%. S&P/ASX jumped 2.23%. Shanghai stock indices added on average 0.4%. Kospi rose by 2.23%.

The European stock indices futures were lower in the morning - Dow Jones Stoxx 50 futures added 0.87% while Dax futures added 1.1%. S&P futures added 1.11%.

ZEW indices for Germany and Eurozone will be in focus in Europe today.

In the US, New home sales and Richmond Fed manufacturing Index will be in focus.