Top News

• The U.S. Initial Jobless Claims increased from 712,000 in the previous week to 770,000 in the current week.
• The U.S. Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index increased from 23.1 in February to 51.8 in March.
• Bond yields spiked as the Federal Reserve Chairman, Jerome Powell, said Wednesday he sees no need to change rates and will continue with the current asset purchase program, $80 billion in treasuries and $40 billion in mortgage-based securities per month.
• U.S. democrats seeked a progressive tax on financial transactions, no details disclosed.
• The U.S. prepared an announcement of a deal to distribute vaccines to Canada and Mexico, expected to be formally announced in coming days.
• The European Medicines Agency concluded the benefits outweigh the risks of the AstraZeneca AZN COVID-19 vaccine. 
• Walt Disney DIS and Amazon AMZN signed agreement with the National Football League, for future broadcasts, in a deal valued at over $100 billion.
• Nike NKE reported mixed Q3 results, and announced they will resume their share buyback plan in Q4 2021.

Indices Around The Globe

• S&P 500 Futures traded down to 3,900, before bouncing higher. Down 1.22% for the session
• UK's FTSE 100 up 0.25% to near 6,779.
• Japan's Nikkei 225 up 1.01% to near 30,216.

Bonds

• 10-year treasury yield at 1.71%

Commodities

• Crude oil down 7.74% to near $59.63/barrel.
• Gold up 0.35% to near $1,733/oz.
• Silver up 0.08% to near $26.08/oz.

Crypto

• Bitcoin down 1.60% over the last 24 hours to near $57,366.

Preview For Friday, March 19

• Baker Hughes Rig Count - 1 p.m. EDT.
• Ireland's decision on the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine - time unknown.