March E-mini S&Ps (ESH16 -0.14%) are down -0.28% as they follow crude oil prices lower, although European stocks are up +0.39% at a 1-month high as miners and commodity producers rallied and led the overall market higher after the price of copper jumped to a 3-1/2 month high. Crude oil is down -1.95% after data late yesterday from API showed U.S. crude inventories surged +9.9 million bbl last week. Asian stocks settled higher: Japan +4.11%, Hong Kong +3.07%, China +4.26%, Taiwan +0.69%, Australia +2.01%, Singapore +1.66%, South Korea +1.70%, India +1.95%. Chinese stocks rallied on speculation the government will announce measures to boost growth at legislative meetings that begin Saturday. China's National People's Congress will begin a 2-week meeting starting March 5 where delegates will sign off on a new 5-year economic plan. Japan's Nikkei Stock Index climbed to a 3-week high as exporter stocks rallied after the yen fell to a 2-week low against eh dollar, which improves earnings prospects of exporters

The dollar index (DXY00 +0.10%) is up +0.10%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is down -0.12%. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is up +0.32% at a 2-week high.

Jun T-note prices (ZNM16 -0.12%) are down -4 ticks at a 4-week low on hawkish comments from San Francisco Fed President Williams who said the U.S. economy is set to "power ahead." which increases the chance of a Fed rate hike at the Mar 15-16 FOMC meeting.

In a telephone interview with the Financial Times, San Francisco Fed President Williams said "he doesn't see any signs in the data of any slackening of domestic demand" and that the U.S. economy is set to "power ahead" and push inflation back to target as positive U.S. domestic demand outweighs weakness from abroad.

Key U.S. news today includes: (1) weekly MBA mortgage applications (previous -4.3% with purchase sub-index +2.2% and refi sub-index -7.7%), (2) Feb ADP employment change (expected +188,000, Jan +205,000), (3) Feb New York ISM (Jan -7.4 to 54.6), (4) San Francisco Fed President John Williams' speech at the Bishop Ranch Forum in San Ramon, CA, and (5) Fed Beige Book.

There are 2 of the S&P 500 companies that report earnings today: Costco Wholesale (consensus $1.28), Brown-Forman (0.94).

U.S. IPO's scheduled to price today: Syndax Pharmaceuticals (SNDX).

Equity conferences this week include: Morgan Stanley Technology Media & Technology Conference on Mon-Thu, Pacific Crest Securities Emerging Technology Summit on Tue-Wed, UBS Natural Gas & Electric Utilities Conference on Wed, Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Agriculture and Chemicals Conference on Wed-Thu, Bank of America Refining Conference on Thu, Citi Asset Management, Broker Dealer & Exchanges Investor Conference on Thu, Gabelli & Company Waste & Environmental Services Conference on Thu, Simmons Energy Conference on Thu-Fri.

Dollar Tree (DLTR +2.22%) was downgraded to 'Market Perform' from 'Strong Buy' at Raymond James.

Amazon.com (AMZN +4.80%) was rated a new 'Outperform' at BMO with a price target of $700.

Weatherford International PLC (WFT -3.28%) dropped over 3% in after-hours trading after it announced an offering of 80 million shares of common stock.

Ross Stores (ROST +2.27%) gained almost 1% in after-hours trading after it reported Q4 EPS of 66 cents, higher than consensus of 64 cents.

Ascena Retail Group (ASNA +4.73%) slid over 4% in after-hours trading after it reported Q2 revenue of $1.84 billion, weaker than consensus of $1.88 billion, and then lowered guidance in Q3 EPS to 10 cents-14 cents, below consensus of 19 cents.

Veeva Systems (VEEV +3.25%) dropped over 2% in after-hours trading after it lowered guidance on fiscal 2016 adjusted EPS to 54 cents-56 cents, below consensus of 57 cents.

Bob Evans Farms BOBE reported Q3 adjusted EPS of 62 cents, better than consensus of 55 cents.

NeoPhotonics (NPTN +5.75%) rose over 5% in after-hours trading after it reported Q4 adjusted EPS of 16 cents, better than consensus of 10 cents.

Chuy's Holdings (CHUY +2.34%) climbed over 6% in after-hours trading after it reported Q4 adjusted EPS of 18 cents, higher than consensus of 13 cents.

Guidewire Software (GWRE +2.62%) jumped 8% in after-hours trading after it raised guidance on fiscal 2016 adjusted EPS to 64 cents-71 cents from a prior view of 57 cents-66 cents, above consensus of 64 cents.

Darling Ingredients (DAR +1.44%) rose over 3% in after-hours trading after it reported Q4 pro forma adjusted Ebitda of $103.1 million, above estimates of $97.1 million.

Big 5 Sporting Goods (BGFV -2.99%) slumped over 12% in after-hours trading after it lowered guidance for Q1 EPS to between a net -5 cent loss to a 2 cent profit, below consensus of a 6 cent profit.

Mar E-mini S&Ps (ESH16 -0.14%) this morning are down -5.50 points (-0.28%). Tuesday's closes: S&P 500 +2.39%, Dow Jones +2.11%, Nasdaq +3.15%. The S&P 500 on Tuesday rose to a 1-3/4 month high and closed sharply higher on the strong U.S. economic reports, which included the +1.3 point increase in the U.S. Feb ISM manufacturing index to 49.5 (stronger than expectations of +0.3 to 48.5) and the +1.5% jump in U.S Jan construction spending (stronger than expectations of +0.3% m/m and the largest increase in 8 months). Stocks were undercut by the -0.4 point decline in the China Feb manufacturing PMI to 49.0, weaker than expectations of unch at 49.4 and matched Nov 2011 as the steepest pace of contraction in 7 years.

Jun 10-year T-notes (ZNM16 -0.12%) this morning are down -4 ticks at a 4-week low. Tuesday's closes: TYM6 -29.50, FVM6 -16.00. Jun T-notes on Tuesday sold off to a 3-week low and closed lower on strength in the U.S. Feb ISM manufacturing and Jan construction spending reports, reduced safe-haven demand with the rally in stocks, and an increase in inflation expectations after the 10-year T-note breakeven inflation rate climbed to a 1-1/2 month high.

The dollar index (DXY00 +0.10%) this morning is up +0.101 (+0.10%). EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is down -0.0013 (-0.12%). USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is up +0.36 (+0.32%) at a 2-week high. Tuesday's closes: Dollar Index +0.141 (+0.14%), EUR/USD -0.00051 (-0.05%), USD/JPY +1.32 (+1.17%). The dollar index on Tuesday rose to a 4-week high and settled higher on the stronger-than-expected U.S. Feb ISM manufacturing and Jan construction spending reports, which may accelerate a Fed rate hike. In addition, EUR/USD slumped to a 1-month low on expectations for the ECB to expand stimulus at next week's policy meeting.

Apr WTI crude (CLJ16 -1.37%) this morning is down -67 cents (-1.95%) and Apr gasoline (RBJ16 +0.61%) is up +0.0007 (+0.05%). Tuesday's closes: CLJ6 +0.65 (+1.93%), RBJ6 -0.0202 (-1.53%). Apr crude oil and gasoline on Tuesday settled mixed. Metals prices were boosted by the rally in global stocks and the stronger-than-expected U.S. Feb ISM manufacturing and Jan construction spending reports, which were positive for energy demand. Metals prices were undercut by the rally in the dollar index to a 4-week high and by expectations for U.S. crude supplies to increase by +2.75 million bbl in Wednesday's EIA inventory report.