US Stock Futures Up; Jobless Claims Data In Focus

Pre-open movers

US stock futures gained in early pre-market trade, ahead of jobless claims data. Data on weekly jobless claims will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 45 points to 16,348.00, while the Standard & Poor's 500 index futures gained 2.70 points to 1,831.80. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index rose 5.50 points to 3,575.25.

A Peek Into Global Markets

European markets were higher today, with the Spanish Ibex Index rising 0.58%, London's FTSE 100 index gaining 0.23% and STOXX Europe 600 Index surging 0.26%. German DAX 30 index climbed 0.94% and French CAC 40 Index gained 0.07%. French consumer spending rose 1.4% in November. Asian markets ended mostly higher today. Japan's Nikkei Stock Average rose 1.03%, China's Shanghai Composite tumbled 1.58% and India's BSE Sensex rose 0.2%.

Broker Recommendation

Analysts at Raymond James downgraded Eagle Rock Energy Partners LP

EROC

from “underperform” to “market perform.” Eagle Rock Energy's shares closed at $6.35 on Tuesday.

Breaking news

Hi-Tech Pharmacal HITK today announced that the Texas Attorney General has agreed to close its investigation of Hi-Tech's pricing of products that were purchased with Texas Medicaid dollars. To read the full news, click here.
Capital Senior Living CSU today announced that it has completed the acquisition of four senior living communities in two transactions for a combined purchase price of approximately $64.9 million. To read the full news, click here.
Goodrich Petroleum GDP today announced that its Huff 18-7H-1 (97% WI) well in Amite County, Mississippi was successfully fracture stimulated with 17 stages and had commenced flowback at expected fluid rates when the well became plugged up with frac-related debris at a frac plug approximately 500 feet into the lateral, which will need to be cleaned out prior to resuming flowback. To read the full news, click here.
DS Healthcare Group DSKX announced that it entered and consummated a securities purchase agreement with an accredited investor for the sale of 1,512,500 shares of the Company's common stock, with gross proceeds of $2,420,0000. To read the full news, click here.

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