US Stock Futures Slightly Higher, Gold Gains

US stock futures are slightly higher this morning, as investors are awaiting nonfarm payrolls. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 11 points to 14,909.00 and S&P 500 index futures rose 0.50 points to 1,609.00. Nasdaq 100 futures gained 4.25 points to 2,939.25. US stocks closed higher on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 0.96% to 14,973.96, the S&P 500 index gaining 1.05% to 1,614.42 and the Nasdaq 100 index surging 1.14% to 3,378.63. The Investor Movement Index for April will be released at 12:30 p.m. ET. Berkshire Hathaway

reported a 41% surge in its first-quarter operating profit. Covidien PLC

lowered its full-year net sales forecast Sysco

is projected to report its Q3 earnings at $0.43 per share on revenue of $11.10 billion. Bridgepoint Education

is expected to report its Q1 earnings at $0.41 per share on revenue of $217.40 million. Tesco

is projected to report its Q1 earnings at $0.25 per share on revenue of $126.22 million. Protective Life

is expected to post its Q1 earnings at $0.92 per share on revenue of $907.42 million. Anadarko Petroleum

is estimated to post its Q1 earnings at $0.94 per share on revenue of $3.49 billion. Tyson Foods

is expected to report its Q2 earnings at $0.45 per share on revenue of $8.58 billion. Westlake Chemical

is projected to report its Q1 earnings at $1.25 per share on revenue of $870.10 million. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company

is estimated to post its Q2 earnings at $2.00 per share on revenue of $1.13 billion. EOG Resources

is expected to post its Q1 earnings at $1.17 per share on revenue of $3.04 billion. First Solar

is expected to post its Q1 earnings at $0.75 per share on revenue of $725.26 million. European markets were lower today. The STOXX Europe 600 Index fell 0.15%, French CAC 40 Index dropped 0.22% and German DAX 30 index fell 0.07%. Asian markets ended higher, with China's Shanghai Composite surging 1.16% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index rising 0.56%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.99% and India's Sensex gained 0.52%. Gold futures surged $9.10 to trade at $1,473.30 an ounce on Monday.