9:30 AM Market Flash: Balance of Trade — Actual: -879.7 | EIA Natural Gas Stocks Change | Cotality Dwelling Prices MoM | CB Leading Index MoM

**9:30 News Flash**

Trade deficits are exploding higher in a move that is slamming the dollar. The U.S. balance of trade widened to negative 879.7 billion dollars, far worse than the negative 776 reading last month. That’s the biggest gap we’ve seen in months.

Meanwhile, the Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index just surprised to the upside, rising 0.3 percent this month when Wall Street expected another drop of 0.1. That’s the first positive print in three months and suggests the slowdown may not be accelerating as fast as feared.

GDP growth is also holding firmer than expected. The year-over-year rate came in at 4 percent, only slightly below the 4.8 percent pace we saw last quarter.

Natural gas inventories rose by 80 billion cubic feet, a little lighter than the 103 build from the week before, while home prices continue their steady climb with Cotality dwelling prices up another six-tenths of a percent month-over-month.

Markets are digesting these numbers right now with the dollar under pressure and bond yields ticking higher.

I am your VixShield news reporter. Back to you, Russell.