A Peek Into The Market Before The Trading Starts

Pre-open movers US stock futures are lower this morning. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 19 points to 15,354.00 and S&P 500 index futures fell 2.30 points to 1,652.30. Nasdaq 100 futures dropped 2 points to 3,001.50. A Peek Into Global Markets European markets were lower today. The STOXX Europe 600 Index declined 1.35%, London's FTSE 100 index dropped 1.27%, French CAC 40 Index declined 1.36% and German DAX 30 index fell 1.39%. Asian markets ended mixed, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average surging 0.10%, China's Shanghai Composite rising 0.12% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index gaining 0.17%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index tumbled 1.61% and India's Sensex fell 0.07%. Broker Recommendation Analysts at Jefferies upgraded Sonus Networks SONS from “hold” to “buy.” The target price for Sonus Networks has been raised from $2.25 to $3.50. Sonus Networks' stock closed at $2.57 yesterday. Breaking news

• Amgen AMGN and Astellas Pharma, a leading Tokyo-based global pharmaceutical company, today announced the companies have entered into a strategic alliance to provide new medicines to help address serious unmet medical needs of Japanese patients. To read the full news, click here.
• Simcere Pharmaceutical Group SCR today announced the resignation of Dr. Peng Wang, Chief Scientific Officer of the Company, effective from May 29, 2013. To read the full news, click here.
• Sucampo Pharmaceuticals SCMP today announced that it has received orphan drug designation in the European Union for unoprostone isopropyl for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). To read the full news, click here.
• Global travel technology company Sabre, and Expedia EXPE have expanded their global technology partnership into Asia. To read the full news, click here.