A Peek Into The Markets: U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher Ahead Of Housing Starts, Industrial Production Data

Pre-open movers

U.S. stock futures traded mostly higher in early pre-market trade. Data on housing starts for April will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET, while data on industrial production for April will be released at 9:15 a.m. ET.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 19 points to 20,949.00, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures rose 0.25 points to 2,398.75. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index gained 3.25 points to 5,704.50.

Oil prices traded higher as Brent crude futures rose 0.60 percent to trade at $52.13 per barrel, while US WTI crude futures gained 0.59 percent to trade at $49.14 a barrel.

A Peek Into Global Markets

European markets were mostly lower today, with the Spanish Ibex Index rising 0.14 percent, STOXX Europe 600 Index declining 0.25 percent and German DAX 30 index dropping 0.10 percent. The UK's FTSE index was trading higher by 0.53 percent, while French CAC 40 Index fell 0.36 percent.

In Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average rose 0.25 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.14 percent, China’s Shanghai Composite Index surged 0.74 percent and India’s BSE Sensex rose 0.86 percent.

Broker Recommendation

Analysts at Morgan Stanley upgraded American International Group Inc AIG from Equal-Weight to Overweight.

American International shares rose 1.36 percent to close at $61.82 on Monday.

Breaking news

• Home Depot Inc HDreported better-than-expected earnings for its first quarter and raised its guidance.



• Staples, Inc. SPLS posted upbeat profit for its first quarter, but sales missed expectations.



• TPG Group Holdings Advisors reported a 4.3 percent stake in Etsy Inc ETSY, while Dragoneer Investment Group reported a 3.7 percent stake in the company.



• Performance Food Group Co PFGC disclosed that it has priced its 14 million share offering by selling shareholders at $27.50 per share.