Pre-open movers
U.S. stock futures traded slightly higher in early pre-market trade, ahead of earnings from Macy's, Inc. (NYSE: M). Data on housing starts and permits for April will be released at 8:30
a.m. ET, while data on industrial production for April will be released at 9:15 a.m. ET. Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President
Raphael Bostic is set to speak at 8:30 a.m. ET, while St. Louis Fed President James Bullard will speak at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 17 points to 24,677.00, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures gained 2
points to 2,711.25. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index climbed 8.25 points to 6,899.50.
Oil prices traded lower as Brent crude futures fell 0.69 percent to trade at $77.89 per barrel, while US WTI crude futures
declined 0.22 percent to trade at $71.14 a barrel. The Energy Information Administration’s weekly report on petroleum inventories
in the U.S.is schedule for release at 10:30 a.m. ET.
A Peek Into Global Markets
European markets were mostly higher today, with the Spanish Ibex Index falling 0.85 percent, STOXX Europe 600 Index gaining 0.15
percent and German DAX 30 index gaining 0.41 percent. The UK's FTSE index was trading higher by 0.17 percent, while French CAC 40
Index rose 0.06 percent.
In Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average fell 0.44 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slipped 0.13 percent, China’s
Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.71 percent and India’s BSE Sensex slipped 0.44 percent.
Broker Recommendation
Analysts at Jefferies downgraded 3M Company (NYSE: MMM) from Buy to Hold.
3M shares fell 0.45 percent to $201.50 in pre-market trading.
Breaking news
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Zoetis Inc. (NYSE: ZTS) announced plans to acquire
Abaxis, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABAX) for $83 per share in
cash.
-
Boot Barn Holdings Inc (NYSE: BOOT) reported upbeat
results for its fourth quarter and issued strong first-quarter earnings guidance.
-
CELYAD SA/ADR (NASDAQ: CYAD) reported launch of
1.8 million share offering.
-
Verastem Inc (NASDAQ: VSTM) shares dropped 12
percent in pre-market trading after announcing a $35 million common stock offering.
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