Global markets searched for direction as traders eyed a possible easing in trade tensions between the U.S. and China and nerves over credit risks in the banking sector ebbed.

Wall Street futures were in negative territory on the heels of a broad rally sent all three major U.S. stock indexes to a sharply higher close yesterday.

Dow futures were down 0.18 per cent, S&P 500 futures declined 0.11 per cent and Nasdaq futures were 0.1 per cent lower as of 6:20 a.m. ET.

TSX futures followed sentiment lower ahead of inflation data later this morning that could influence the Bank of Canada’s interest rate decision next week.

In Canada, investors are getting results from Waste Connections Inc.

On Wall Street, markets are watching earnings from Netflix Inc., GE Aerospace, Coca-Cola Co., Philip Morris International Inc., Capital One Financial Corp., Lockheed Martin Corp., General Motors Co., 3M Co., Texas Instruments Inc. and Halliburton Co.

“The market has hurdled the wall of worry with ease, with new capital injected into risk and fresh oxygen into the market’s lungs,” said Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone.

Overseas, the pan-European STOXX 600 was flat in morning trading. Britain’s FTSE 100 gained 0.18 per cent, Germany’s DAX edged down 0.12 per cent and France’s CAC 40 climbed 0.12 per cent.

In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei closed 0.27 per cent higher, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng advanced 0.67 per cent.

Oil prices held steady after falling yesterday as concerns about oversupply and risks to demand, along with the trade dispute between the U.S. and China weigh on the markets.

Brent crude futures were little changed at US$61.01 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) contract for November delivery, set to expire today, was down 15 US cents at US$57.37. The more active December contract was steady at US$57.02.

“Speculative bets on lower prices are likely to persist as long as Brent remains below US$65,” said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank.

In other commodities, spot gold was down 2.3 per cent at US$4,256.19 an ounce, having hit an all-time high of US$4,381.21 yesterday. U.S. gold futures for December delivery fell 2.1 per cent to US$4,269.60 an ounce.

The Canadian dollar weakened against its U.S. counterpart.

The day range on the loonie was 71.08 US cents to 71.28 US cents in early trading. The Canadian dollar was down about 1.56 per cent against the greenback over the past month.

The U.S. dollar index, which weighs the greenback against a group of currencies, rose 0.26 per cent to 98.84.

The euro slid 0.25 per cent to US$1.1614. The British pound gave back 0.18 per cent to US$1.3382.

In bonds, the yield on the U.S. 10-year note was last down at 3.980 per cent.

Japan machine tool orders

8:30 a.m. ET: Canadian CPI for September. The Street is projecting a decline of 0.1 per cent from August and a rise of 2.3 per cent year-over-year.

With Reuters and The Canadian Press