➤ US stocks rise, as China grants additional tariff waivers for US soybeans purchases.
➤ European bourses largely down as eurozone manufacturing downturn worsens.
➤ Sterling declines as UK PM rejects reports about customs clearance proposals.
➤ Australia cuts rate again, sending Aussie dollar lower.
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 rose 0.4% and 0.5%, respectively, around 9:30 a.m. ET.
Chinese companies bought up to 1 million tons of U.S. soybeans after tariff waivers were granted to them, Bloomberg News reported. In addition, China granted waivers for the purchase of another 2 million tons of U.S. soybeans.
European bourses were largely in the red, with the FTSE 100 little change, France's CAC 40 down 0.2% and Germany's DAX edging down 0.1%.
The manufacturing downturn in the eurozone continued for the eighth successive month in September, dropping to the lowest level in seven years on the back of sharp declines in new orders and output. The manufacturing downturn was led by Germany, which missed expectations.
Japan's Nikkei 225 reversed yesterday's losses to end the session up 0.6% as the consumption tax hike kicked in Oct. 1. The Bank of Japan's Tankan survey showed that business confidence deteriorated further in the third quarter, with sentiment among large factory firms down to the weakest level in more than six years.
China and Hong Kong markets were shut to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
In the bond market, yields on 10-year Treasurys added 6 basis points to 1.729%. German Bund yields due in a decade rose 4 basis points.
Ten-year bond yields in Italy added 2 basis points as the country's new coalition government slightly raised the budget deficit target for 2020 in a bid to kickstart its economy while testing the EU's flexibility on its member states' fiscal measures.
In currencies, the dollar index, which tracks the dollar's performance against a basket of peers, gained 0.2%.
The British pound declined 0.5% against the dollar, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson rejected speculation that his Brexit plan due to be submitted to the EU tomorrow will include customs clearance proposals.
Johnson reportedly said he still plans to suspend parliament, though it would be done within the bounds of a recent Supreme Court ruling, which declared August's prorogation as unlawful.
"With the risks comfortably tilted to the downside, a further fall in pound is almost inevitable," said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at London Capital Group.
The euro was little changed versus the U.S. currency. Data showed that annual inflation across the 19-nation bloc came in at a lower-than-expected rate of 0.9% in September, well below the European Central Bank's target.
Elsewhere, the Australian dollar fell 1% after the Reserve Bank of Australia cut the interest rate to a fresh record low while leaving the door open for more easing.
Brent crude oil increased 1.3% to $60.03 per barrel on the ICE Futures Exchange. Saudi Aramco's oil production capacity has reportedly been restored to the levels before the drone attacks last month.
Gold slipped 0.2%.
More from S&P Global Market Intelligence:
S&P 500 earnings report for week of Sept. 30: Costco Wholesale set to report
Bank of America, US Bancorp gain mortgage market share with digital offerings
Q3 brings jump in bank deals in Texas
New RWE bets big on green growth
Shoemakers lead same-store sales growth among consumer companies
The day ahead:
9:45 a.m. ET — U.S. manufacturing purchasing managers' index (Econoday consensus: 51.0)
10 a.m. ET — U.S. Institute For Supply Management manufacturing index (Econoday consensus: 50.0)
10 a.m. ET — U.S. construction spending (Econoday consensus: 0.3% month over month)
