Pre-open movers
U.S. stock futures traded higher in early pre-market trade. The Markit PMI Services Flash data for December is schedule for
release at 9:45 a.m. ET. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen is set to speak in Batimore, Maryland at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 25 points to 19,818.00, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures gained
2.25 points to 2,257.50. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index rose 5 points to 4,920.50.
Oil prices traded higher as Brent crude futures gained 0.31 percent to trade at $55.38 per barrel, while US WTI crude futures
also rose 0.34 percent to trade at $53.13 a barrel.
A Peek Into Global Markets
European markets were mostly lower today, with the Spanish Ibex Index falling 0.38 percent, STOXX Europe 600 Index declining
0.10 percent and German DAX 30 index dropping 0.01 percent. The UK's FTSE index was trading higher by 0.12 percent, while French
CAC 40 Index declined 0.19 percent.
In Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average fell 0.05 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.85 percent, China’s
Shanghai Composite Index slipped 0.16 percent and India’s BSE Sensex declined 0.43 percent.
Broker Recommendation
Analysts at Jefferies upgraded Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (NYSE: BMY) from Hold to Buy and raised price target to $69.00.
Bristol-Myers Squibb shares rose 1.50 percent to $59.50 in pre-market trading.
Breaking news
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Lennar Corporation (NYSE: LEN) posted
stronger-than-expected earnings for its fourth quarter on Monday.
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Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd (OTC: FRFHF) agreed
to buy Allied World Assurance Co Holdings, AG. (NYSE: AWH) for $4.9 billion in cash and stock.
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Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) disclosed that it has
received an approval for KEYTRUDA in Japan.
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xG Technology Inc (NASDAQ: XGTI) announced plans
to acquire Vislink Communication Systems. However, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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