Wednesday's Market Recap - Another Day Of Record Highs For Major US Stock Indices.

What is The Premarket Telling Us?

8:00 AM.

Investor are planning to push markets higher again today, if you believe the futures. Dow futures are up 45 points, Nasdaq futures up 10 points, and the S&P futures is up 3.50 points. Asian markets closed mostly positive, and Europe is looking higher early in their session.

On The Bond Desk:

US 10 year bond yield sits at 2.46% up 0.05% or five basis points.

Currency Desk:

Euro dollar at 1.20

UK Pound at1.35

Crude Oil:

WTI crude oil futures moderately higher, at $60.85/barrel, up 0.80%

On the Earnings Calendar:

None

In M&A News:

Ant Financial $1.2 billion deal to buy MoneyGram was rejected by US regulators.

What About The Asian And European Markets?

Major Asian markets closed mostly with gains overnight. Japan (Nikkei 225) fell 0.08%, Shanghai up 0.62%, Hong Kong (Hang Seng) up 0.15%.

European stocks closed the day in positive territory. Germany (DAX) gained .83%, France CAC 40 rose 0.81%, London FTSE 100 up 0.30%.

Market And Sector Dynamics

Stocks opened the trading day higher, with the Dow up 28 points, Nasdaq up 14 points, and the S&P added 7 points.

Markets remained comfortably in positive territory for the entire trading session, gaining added momentum after release of the minutes of the December FOMC meeting, where the Feds appear on track to continue their gradual rate increases.

Nine of the eleven S&P sectors closed the day with gains. Energy, technology, healthcare, consumer goods, industrials, and basic materials outperformed.

Factors Influencing Today's Market

• Crude oil continued its assent in today's trading. WTI crude oil closed at $61.84/barrel, up a strong 2.43%.

• Asian and European markets closed solid gains today.

• Federal regulators have rejected China's Ant Financial proposed purchase of MoneyGram.

• The FOMC released the minutes of its December meeting, and appear on track to continue gradual interest rates hike.

• December ISM Manufacturing Index came in a strong 59.7 vs 58.2 anticipated.

Market Close Volume Traded And Advance Decline Ratio

At the end of trading the Dow gained 98.67 points, Nasdaq jumped 58.63 points, and the S&P rose 17.25 points. Total NYSE volume traded, 3.49 billion shares. Advancing shares outpaced Declining shares nearly 2:1.

Data Sources: Bloomberg, CNBC, CNN Money, Google Finance, Market Watch, TD Ameritrade, Yahoo Finance.