A Peek Into The Market Before The Trading Starts - Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML)

Pre-open movers

US stock futures are mixed this morning, ahead of economic data. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 21 points to 13,108 and S&P 500 index futures rose 3.30 points to 1,412.50. Nasdaq 100 futures dropped 3.25 points to 2,619.75.

A Peek Into Global Markets

European markets were lower today. The STOXX Europe 600 Index fell 0.24%, London's FTSE 100 Index dropped 0.52%, French CAC 40 Index declined 0.44% and German DAX 30 index fell 0.05%. Asian markets ended mostly lower, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average rising 0.94%, China's Shanghai Composite gaining 0.45% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dropping 0.15%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.41% India's Sensex declined 0.38%.

Broker Recommendation

Analysts at Citigroup downgraded Apple

AAPL

from “buy” to “neutral.” The target price for Apple has been lowered from $675 to $575. Apple shares dropped 2.41% to $497.50 in pre-market trading.

Breaking news

Sprint S today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the approximately 50 percent stake in Clearwire CLWR it does not currently own for $2.97 per share, equating to a total payment to Clearwire shareholders, other than Sprint, of $2.2 billion. To read the full news, click here.
MIPS Technologies MIPS today announced that it entered into a new amendment to its merger agreement with Imagination Technologies Group plc originally announced on November 5, 2012, and all amendments thereto. To read the full news, click here.
EVault, a Seagate Company STX, today announced a partnership with Fujitsu FJTSY. To read the full news, click here.
ASML Holding ASML today announces the completion of its share buy back programs announced on 19 January 2011, and increased per the announcement on 18 January 2012. To read the full news, click here.

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