US Stock Futures Slightly Lower Ahead Of Economic Data

Monica Gerson, Benzinga Staff Writer

June 13, 2012 6:06 AM

Tickers: CASY, CFI, DELL, KFY, PRU, SEH, VIMC

US stock futures are slightly lower this morning, as investors are awaiting economic data.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 4 points to 12,510.00 and S&P 500 index futures fell 2 points to 1,318.10. Nasdaq 100 futures declined 3.50 points to 2,541.50.

US stocks closed higher on Tuesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 1.31% to 12,573.80, the S&P 500 index gaining 1.17% to 1,324.18 and the Nasdaq 100 index surging 1.19% to 2,843.07.

Data on May retail sales and producer prices will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Spartech (NYSE: SEH) is expected to post its Q2 EPS at $0.12 on revenue of $314.00 million. Vimicro International (NASDAQ: VIMC) is estimated to post a Q1 loss at $0.10 per share on revenue of $11.50 million.

Culp (NYSE: CFI) is projected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.32 per share on revenue of $66.70 million. Korn/Ferry International (NYSE: KFY) is estimated to post its Q4 EPS at $0.27 on revenue of $192.01 million.

Casey's General Stores (NASDAQ: CASY) reported a weaker-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter profit.

Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) announced its plans to pay its first dividend in the third quarter. The company will pay a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share.

Prudential Financial (NYSE: PRU) announced its plans to repurchase up to $1 billion in stock over the next year.

European markets were lower today. The STOXX Europe 600 Index fell 0.32%, London's FTSE 100 Index dropped 0.12%, French CAC 40 index fell 0.18% and German DAX 30 index declined 0.55%.

Asian markets ended mostly higher, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average gaining 0.60%, Chinese Shanghai Composite rising 1.27% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dropping 0.17%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained 0.82% and India's Sensex rose 0.11%.

Crude for July delivery dropped $0.17 to $83.16 a barrel. However, gold for July delivery declined $0.40 to $1,613.40 an ounce. The euro gained 0.32% versus the US dollar to trade at $1.2545.

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