A Peek Into The Markets: U.S. Stock Futures Up Ahead Of Campbell Earnings

Pre-open movers

U.S. stock futures traded higher in early pre-market trade, ahead of earnings from Campbell Soup Company CPB. St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President James Bullard is set to speak in St. Louis at 9:15 a.m. ET, while San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President John Williams will speak in San Francisco at 1:40 p.m. ET.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 29 points to 20,673.00, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures rose 5.50 points to 2,369.00. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index gained 13.25 points to 5,643.75.

Oil prices traded higher as Brent crude futures rose 1.18 percent to trade at $53.13 per barrel, while US WTI crude futures gained 1.18 percent to trade at $49.93 a barrel. The Baker Hughes North American rig count report for the latest week is schedule for release at 1:00 p.m. ET.

A Peek Into Global Markets

European markets were higher today, with the Spanish Ibex Index rising 0.70 percent, STOXX Europe 600 Index surging 0.41 percent and German DAX 30 index gaining 0.23 percent. The UK's FTSE index was trading higher by 0.43 percent, while French CAC 40 Index climbed 0.48 percent.

In Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average rose 0.19 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.15 percent, China’s Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.02 percent and India’s BSE Sensex rose 0.10 percent.

Broker Recommendation

Analysts at Macquarie downgraded Pandora Media Inc P from Outperform to Neutral.

Pandora shares rose 5.49 percent to close at $9.42 on Thursday.

Breaking news

• Deere & Company DE reported stronger-than-expected earnings for its second quarter.



• Gap Inc GPS reported stronger-than-expected earnings for its first quarter on Thursday.



• Foot Locker, Inc. FL posted weaker-than-expected earnings for its first quarter on Friday.



• Ross Stores, Inc. ROST posted better-than-expected profit for its first quarter.