A Peek Into The Market Before The Trading Starts

Pre-open movers

US stock futures are slightly higher this morning, as investors are awaiting housing starts data and the producer price index. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 3 points to 14,010.00 and S&P 500 index futures rose 0.50 points to 1,528.50. Nasdaq 100 futures gained 1.25 points to 2,782.00.

A Peek Into Global Markets

European markets were mixed today. The STOXX Europe 600 Index fell 0.13%, London's FTSE 100 Index gained 0.32%, French CAC 40 Index fell 0.20% and German DAX 30 index rose 0.19%. Asian markets ended higher, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average surging 0.84%, China's Shanghai Composite gaining 0.60% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rising 0.26%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index climbed 0.71% and India's Sensex rose 0.04%.

Broker Recommendation

Analysts at Citigroup upgraded Staples

SPLS

from “sell” to “neutral.” The target price for Staples has been raised from $10 to $16. Staples shares gained 13.13% to close at $14.65 yesterday.

Breaking news

Iconix Brand Group ICON today announced that it has acquired Lee Cooper, a global lifestyle brand with over a 100-year heritage for $72 million in cash. To read the full news, click here.
Dish Network DISH reported a drop in its fourth-quarter net income. To read the full news, click here.
Williams Interactive LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of WMS Industries WMS, announced today that the Company entered into an online content licensing agreement with Sky Betting & Gaming, the online betting and gaming division of UK pay-television broadcaster BSkyB Group. To read the full news, click here.
JinkoSolar JKS today announced that it has entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with China Three Gorges New Energy to deliver, during the three years from 2013 to 2015, a total of 600 megawatts of its high-efficiency solar panels to be installed in western China. To read the full news, click here.

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