A final reminder about Quick News updates- US data on the agenda for the S+P 500 this afternoon

As the S+P 500 futures continue to flounder this morning, it is clear the Nasdaq 100 is leading the moves lower in the S+P and suppressing the opening outlook for the broader market. There are some quite important US economic releases to note later this afternoon, but as noted a couple of times over the past week, this analyst will not be on hand to talk you through those. As mentioned before that absence will be until March 6. So, in terms of those US releases today, we have the February nationwide consumer confidence index (expected 102.5 from 104.1) and the Richmond Fed manufacturing index (expected -3 from -4) and both are due out at 3pm GMT. Either can move the US stock markets on their own, but if the combined outcome is similar, it might have more of a directional impact. Barring any fresh major news, the S+P 500 index is going to open below 6k this afternoon. The downside levels of note were covered here this morning, around 5, 945 and the reader is referred back to that earlier update this morning. The S+P 500 is just now priced to reopen around 5,970