5 things to watch on the market today

1.U.S. consumer confidence data will be in the spotlight on Tuesday, as investors attempt to gauge if the world's largest economy is strong enough to withstand an increase in borrowing costs before the end of the year.  Analysts expect the index to tick down to 101.0 from 104.1 in September. Meanwhile, Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart is scheduled to speak on lending and investing in community development. Fed speakers will then be in a quiet period ahead of the central bank's meeting next week.

2. Apple reports earnings
Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL), the largest S&P 500 stock by market capitalization, is due to report its September quarter results after the market closes Tuesday. The results will offer the first peek into sales of the new iPhone 7. Analysts expect the iPhone maker to post earnings of $1.65 a share on revenue of $46.89 billion for the quarter. Besides Apple, pre-market earnings are expected from Caterpillar, General Motors, DuPont, Eli Lilly , Merck , Novartis , Procter & Gamble, Fiat Chrysler, United Technologies, Corning , Freeport-McMoran  KKR, Lockheed Martin, Sherwin-Williams and others

3. German business confidence in October improved to the highest level since April 2014, a sign that Europe's largest economy has started to pick up speed.German research institute Ifo said its Business Climate Index rose to 110.5 this month from a reading of 109.5 in September, above forecasts for 109.5.

4.Global stocks mostly higher as dollar firms at 9-month high U.S. stock index futures pointed to a marginally higher open on Tuesday morning, as traders eyed the release of key data and earnings.Earlier, Asian shares finished mixed, with South Korea of note after data showed economic growth slowed in the third quarter

5. Oil prices inched higher on Tuesday, rebounding from an overnight decline, as market players awaited details of a planned output cut by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. U.S. crude was up 31 cents, or 0.61%, to $50.83 a barrel, while Brent tacked on 20 cents, or 0.39%, to $51.66 a barrel.

Read more:

• And for all the bounty hunters: Iran offers $80m for the head of Donald Trump
• US service member and 2 US Defense Dept contractors killed in Kenya attack
• Iranian Quds leader Qasem Soleimani has been killed – how are markets reacting
• A calm end of an otherwise loud 2019
• Old but Gold – Top 5 posts of Varchev Finance