Pre-open movers
U.S. stock futures traded higher in early pre-market trade, after President Donald Trump announced plans to delay an increase in
China tariffs. The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for January is schedule for release at 8:30 a.m. ET, while data on wholesale
inventories for December will be released at 10:00 a.m. ET. The Dallas Fed manufacturing index for February is schedule for release
at 10:30 a.m. ET.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 163 points to 26,165.00, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures rose
13.5 points to 2,804.75. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index climbed 49 points to 7,136.75.
Oil prices traded higher as Brent crude futures rose
0.04 percent to trade at $67.15 per barrel, while US WTI crude futures gained 0.3 percent to trade at $57.43 a barrel.
A Peek Into Global Markets
European markets were higher today, with the Spanish Ibex Index rising 0.2 percent, STOXX Europe 600 Index gaining 0.3 percent
and German DAX 30 index climbed 0.4 percent. The UK's FTSE index was trading higher by 0.2 percent, while French CAC 40 Index
gained 0.4 percent.
In Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average rose 0.5 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index climbed 0.5 percent, China’s
Shanghai Composite Index climbed 5.6 percent and India’s BSE Sensex rose 0.95 percent.
Broker Recommendation
Analysts at Macquarie upgraded Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NYSE: NCLH) from Neutral to Outperform.
Norwegian Cruise Line shares rose 0.7 percent to $55.75 in pre-market trading.
Breaking News
-
Roche Holdings AG (OTC: RHHBY) announced
plans to acquire Spark Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: ONCE) for $114.50 per share in cash.
-
Barrick Gold Corp (NYSE: GOLD) proposed
an all stock merger with Newmont Mining Corp (NYSE: NEM).
-
Armstrong World Industries Inc (NYSE: AWI) reported weaker-than-expected earnings for its fourth quarter.
-
General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) agreed
to sell its BioPharma business to Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR) for $21.4 billion.
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