A Peek Into The Markets: U.S. Stock Futures Mixed Ahead Of GDP, Jobless Claims Data

Pre-open movers

U.S. stock futures traded mixed in early pre-market trade. Data on Gross Domestic Product for the first quarter and initial jobless claims will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET. St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank president James Bullard is set to speak in London at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 36 points to 21,438.00, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures rose 5.50 points to 2,444.00. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index declined 8 points to 5,755.50.

Oil prices traded higher as Brent crude futures rose 1.14 percent to trade at $47.85 per barrel, while US WTI crude futures gained 1.21 percent to trade at $47.85 a barrel. The Energy Information Administration’s weekly report on natural gas stocks in underground storage is schedule for release at 10:30 a.m. ET.

A Peek Into Global Markets

European markets were mostly lower today, with the Spanish Ibex Index dropping 0.27 percent, STOXX Europe 600 Index declining 0.17 percent and German DAX 30 index dropping 0.17 percent. The UK's FTSE index was trading higher by 0.45 percent, while French CAC 40 Index fell 0.54 percent.

In Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average rose 0.45 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index climbed 1.10 percent, China’s Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.47 percent and India’s BSE Sensex rose 0.08 percent.

Broker Recommendation

Analysts at Oppenheimer downgraded Whole Foods Market, Inc. WFM from Outperform to Perform..

Whole Foods shares fell 0.36 percent to $42.10 in pre-market trading.

Breaking news

• Constellation Brands, Inc. STZ reported better-than-expected earnings for its first quarter and raised its FY18 adjusted earnings outlook.



• Pier 1 Imports Inc PIR reported a narrower-than-expected loss for its first quarter, but revenue missed estimates.



• Worthington Industries, Inc. WOR posted upbeat earnings or its fourth quarter on Wednesday.



• Staples, Inc. SPLS agreed to be acquired by Sycamore Partners at $10.25 per share in cash.