US Stock Futures Slightly Lower Ahead Of CPI

US stock futures are slightly lower this morning, as investors are awaiting economic data. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 2 points to 14,450.00 and S&P 500 index futures fell 1.80 points to 1,554.60. Nasdaq 100 futures declined 1.25 points to 2,799.00.

US stocks closed higher on Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 0.58% to 14,539.14, the S&P 500 index rising 0.56% to 1,563.23 and the Nasdaq 100 index surging 0.43% to 3,258.93.

The consumer price index for February and the Empire State manufacturing index for March will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET. Data on industrial production for February will be released at 9:15 a.m. ET, while the Reuter's/University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index for March will be released at 9:55 a.m. ET.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (NYSE: KKD) reported a drop in its fiscal fourth-quarter net income and issued a weak full-year view.

JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE: JPM) announced its plan to buy back $6 billion in stock and lift its second-quarter dividend to $0.38 per share from $0.30 per share.

Aeropostale (NYSE: ARO) swung to a loss in the fiscal fourth quarter and issued downbeat forecast for the current quarter.

Brown Shoe Co (NYSE: BWS) is estimated to report its Q4 earnings at $0.08 per share on revenue of $634.33 million. Hibbett Sports (NASDAQ: HIBB) is expected to report its Q4 earnings at $0.71 per share on revenue of $216.90 million.

Zhongpin (NASDAQ: HOGS) is expected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.31 per share on revenue of $419.45 million. Federal Signal (NYSE: FSS) is expected to report its Q4 earnings at $0.11 per share on revenue of $208.35 million. Zogenix (NASDAQ: ZGNX) is projected post a Q4 loss at $0.17 per share on revenue of $9.87 million.

European markets were lower today. The STOXX Europe 600 Index fell 0.10%, London's FTSE 100 Index dropped 0.16%, French CAC 40 Index fell 0.48% and German DAX 30 index declined 0.18%.

Asian markets ended mixed, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average gaining 1.45%, China's Shanghai Composite rising 0.36% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rising 1.70%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped 0.38% and India's Sensex tumbled 0.71%.

Gold futures rose 0.06% to trade at $1,591.70 an ounce.

The ICE dollar index fell 0.26% to trade at 82.36.

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