US equity futures suggest major indices slightly biased toward upside moves this morning, despite mixed European and Asian market action. A strongly bid sale of Madrid’s short-term T-bills fueled gains in the euro, despite ongoing contention within eurozone policymakers’ ranks, mixed media reports, and news that ECB President Draghi will absent himself from the upcoming Jackson Hole retreat where he was expected to make a key speech on Saturday. Japan’s government lowered economic assumptions for the first time this year, reigniting global growth worries, and Fed members continue to air their debates on the need and wisdom of further monetary easing measures. However, Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) patent ruling victory in US courts continued to tickle investors’ fancies, sending offshoots throughout the technology sector as analysts sought out the resultant winners and losers of the decision. |