Retail sales reverse two-month slide. Retail sales rose 0.8% in October. The U.S. consumer is the healthiest in years, aided by fiscal stimulus and modestly accelerating wages, and strong consumer demand will drive output going forward. (LPL)

 

Tensions are heating up over U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May's proposed plan for the country's exit from the European Union. European stocks have dropped 1% over the past two days, and global equities could endure volatility amid Brexit-related headlines. (LPL)

 

Trade and auto disruptions weighed on the German economy. The German economy contracted during Q3 as gross domestic product (GDP) shrunk by 0.2%. Weak auto sales were largely to blame. (LPL)

 

Japan's economy was dragged down by temporary factors, as GDP slipped 1.2% during Q3. Weather disruptions were mostly to blame, including an earthquake, typhoons, and torrential rain. (LPL)

 

Levi Strauss plans IPO that values company at up to $5 billion. The 145-year-old American icon is looking to raise between $600 million and $800 million. (CNBC)

 

The S&P 500 is down 15 and the NASDAQ is down 64. MSCI International index is lower.

Oil is up 97 cents at $57.41 a barrel.

Gold is up $2 at $1217 a Troy ounce.

 

With Northwest Quadrant Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisor I am Troy Reinhart.