A Peek Into The Market Before The Trading Starts

Pre-open movers

US stock futures are mixed this morning. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 3 points to 12,533.00 and S&P 500 index futures rose 0.90 points to 1,323.50. Nasdaq 100 futures gained 5.25 points to 2,541.50.

A Peek Into Global Markets

European markets were mostly lower today. The STOXX Europe 600 Index declined 0.11%, London's FTSE 100 Index dropped 0.31%, French CAC 40 index fell 0.14% and German DAX 30 index climbed 0.14%. Asian markets ended mostly lower, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average rising 0.20%, Chinese Shanghai Composite declining 0.74% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dropping 0.61%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 0.25% and India's Sensex fell 0.03%.

Broker Recommendation

Analysts at JPMorgan downgraded H.J. Heinz Company

HNZ

from “overweight” to “neutral.” The target price for Heinz has been lowered from $59 to $56. Heinz shares fell 0.82% to $53.11 in pre-market trading.

Breaking news

PDI Inc PDII today announced the signing of a contract with a new customer to provide promotional services across PDI's multiple communications channels that will target primary care physicians. To read the full news, click here.
SunOpta Inc STKL today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Canadian natural health products distribution business (operated as Purity Life Natural Health Products) to an affiliate of Banyan Capital Partners ("Banyan"). To read the full news, click here.
As announced today, Syngenta and attorneys for several community water systems have agreed to settle litigation related to the herbicide atrazine in order to end the business uncertainty and expense of protracted legal proceedings. To read the full newsclick here.
Aeroflex Holding Corp ARX today announced that Aeroflex Incorporated, its wholly owned subsidiary, has successfully obtained an amendment to its senior secured credit agreement. To read the full news, click here.

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