A Peek Into The Markets: U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher Ahead Of Beige Book

Pre-open movers

U.S. stock futures traded higher in early pre-market trade. Data on import and export prices for June will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET, while the Treasury Budget report for June will be released at 2:00 p.m. ET. The Federal Reserve will release latest Beige Book report at 2:00 p.m. ET. Dallas Fed President Robert Kaplan is set to speak at 9:00 a.m. ET, while Philadelphia Fed Bank President Patrick Harker is set to speak in Philadelphia at 6:00 p.m. ET.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 13 points to 18,277.00, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures rose 2 points to 2,147.75. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index gained 8 points to 4,578.00.

Oil prices traded lower as Brent crude futures fell 1.67 percent to trade at $47.64 per barrel, while US WTI crude futures also dropped 1.37 percent to trade at $46.16 a barrel. The Energy Information Administration’s weekly report on petroleum inventories is scheduled for release at 10:30 a.m. ET.

A Peek Into Global Markets

European markets were higher today, with the Spanish Ibex Index gaining 0.60 percent, STOXX Europe 600 Index rising 0.51 percent and German DAX 30 index gaining 0.31 percent. The UK's FTSE index was trading higher by 0.18 percent, while French CAC 40 Index gained 0.56 percent.

In Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average rose 0.84 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.46 percent, China’s Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.37 percent and India’s BSE Sensex gained 0.03 percent.

Broker Recommendation

Analysts at Piper Jaffray upgraded Pandora Media Inc P from Neutral to Overweight.

Pandora shares gained 2.14 percent to $13.35 in pre-market trading.

Breaking news

• AAR Corp. AIR posted weaker-than-expected earnings for its fourth quarter on Tuesday.



• ConAgra Foods Inc CAG filed a Form 10 Registration Statement with the SEC in respect of its planned separation into two independent public companies, i.e. Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. and Conagra Brands, Inc. As a result, its earnings and revenue missed the expectations. To read the full news, click here.



• Michaels Companies Inc MIK reported an offering of 11 million shares via selling holders. The company now expects Q2 results in the lower-to-middle range of its earlier disclosed outlook.