European, Asian Stocks Slide But US Futures Rebound As Tax Deal Fears Ease

U. S. equity index futures point to a higher open, having rebounded some 10 points off session lows with the VIX stuck on the edge between single and double digits, while European and Asian shares decline as investors assess central banks’ shift toward tighter monetary policy and concern over tax overhaul ahead of final plan.
It has been a groggy end to what is still set to be a third week of gains for MSCI’s global stock index following more upbeat data and signs that central banks including the Federal Reserve will keep treading carefully with interest rate hikes.
On Thursday, US stocks closed 0.41% lower after Republican Senator Rubio said he intends to oppose the tax bill as written unless there was a larger child tax credit (currently $1,100). He said GOP leaders ‘found the money to lower the top (individual tax) rate’, but ‘can’t find a little bit’ more to help working class parents raising children. However, later on, President Trump said he is ‘very sure’ Mr Rubio will vote yes. So still lots of potential changes here before the bills gets voted by the Senate, potentially as soon as Monday, although on Friday, US equities appears sanguine about the risks and have faded most of Thuesday’s weakness.

This post was published at Zero Hedge on Dec 15, 2017.