Nikkei 225 rises 0.80% after Wall Street closes lower, ahead of Europe's open

US stocks closed lower on Thursday, with the S&P 500 down 0.34%, while the Nikkei 225 stands 0.80% higher in Asian trading on Friday, November 13. Europe heads toward the open with EUR/USD flat and Brent crude near 95.64 dollars a barrel.

What happened

The S&P 500 ended the session at 7592.06, down 25.78 points from the previous close of 7617.84. The NASDAQ 100 closed at 28289.19, a loss of 85.06 points, or 0.30%, from 28374.25.

In Asia, the Nikkei 225 stands at 61306.56. That is 487.2 points above the previous close of 60819.36.

EUR/USD trades at 1.1059, flat against its previous close. Brent crude is at 95.64 dollars a barrel, down 0.19% from 95.82.

Why it matters

Oil is the main external variable for Europe this morning. Brent has edged lower, but it remains above 95 dollars after fresh attacks in the Middle East, according to market reports. Trump said there was no need for a deal, which adds to the uncertainty around the region.

Energy prices matter for European inflation and for company costs. They also shape the political debate in Rome and in other capitals about energy supply and household budgets. A steady euro against the dollar means currency moves are not adding a separate source of pressure at the open.

The two-way picture is clear. Wall Street slipped modestly, with both major US indexes down by about one third of a percent, while Japanese equities are rising. For investors, the mix of a softer US close, a firmer Asian session and a stable euro points to a mixed backdrop for the Milan open.

What to watch next

The Italian Stock Exchange session runs from 09:00 to 17:30 Rome time. The first data point comes at 10:00 UTC, when the EU releases third-quarter employment figures.

Employment change is expected at 0.4% year on year, against a previous reading of 0.5%. On a quarterly basis, the estimate is 0.2%, against a previous 0.1%.

At 13:30 UTC, the United States publishes the producer price index for October. The month-on-month estimate is 0.4%, against a previous reading of 1.3%. The release will show whether wholesale price pressure has eased from the earlier pace.

Oil headlines from the Middle East will also stay in focus through the European session, together with any reaction in Brent and the euro.