A Peek Into The Market Before The Trading Starts

Pre-open movers US stock futures are higher this morning, as investors are awaiting economic data. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 27 points to 15,148.00 and S&P 500 index futures rose 3 points to 1,636.70. Nasdaq 100 futures jumped 6.75 points to 2,971.50. A Peek Into Global Markets European markets were mostly higher today. The STOXX Europe 600 Index rose 0.09%, London's FTSE 100 index gained 0.83%, French CAC 40 Index declined 0.07% and German DAX 30 index rose 0.07%. Asian markets ended mostly lower, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average falling 0.20%, China's Shanghai Composite rising 0.14% and Australia's ASX/S&P500 dropping 0.22%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declined 0.02 points and India's Sensex tumbled 102.59 points. Broker Recommendation Analysts at Goldman Sachs downgraded Williams Partners LP WPZ from “buy” to “neutral.” The target price for Williams Partners is set to $52. Williams Partners shares closed at $48.09 yesterday. Breaking news

• Diamondback Energy FANG announced today the launch of an underwritten public offering of 5,000,000 shares of its common stock by certain selling stockholders, subject to market and other conditions. To read the full news, click here.
• United Airlines UAL today increased its Boeing BA 787 Dreamliner order to 65 aircraft (including six previously delivered aircraft) with an order for 20 787-10s. To read the full news, click here.
• Hydrogenics HYGS today announced that the Company has been awarded a contract for three HySTAT®-60 electrolyzers by The Linde Group for installation as part of a fueling station in Bolzano, Italy. To read the full news, click here.
• Royalty Pharma announced today that it had withdrawn its request for a judicial review of the Irish Takeover Panel's decision requiring it to lapse its offer for Elan Corporation, plc ELN if, among other things, Elan shareholders approved the Share Repurchase Program. To read the full news, click here.