A Peek Into The Market Before The Trading Starts

Pre-open movers

US stock futures are higher this morning, as investors are awaiting jobs data. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 16 points to 12,682.00and S&P 500 index futures rose 1.90 points to 1,324.60. Nasdaq 100 futures gained 7.75 points to 2,499.25.

A Peek Into Global Markets

European markets were higher today. The STOXX Europe 600 Index gained 0.40%, London's FTSE 100 Index moved up 0.40%, French CAC 40 index rose 0.22% and German DAX 30 index gained 0.21%. Asian markets ended mixed, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average dropping 0.4193%, China's Shanghai Composite gaining 0.77% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 moving down 0.30%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained 0.0845% and India's Sensex surged 0.99%.

Broker Recommendation

Analysts at Mizuho downgraded Acme Packet Inc

APKT

from “neutral” to “underperform.” The target price for Acme Packet has been lowered from $25 to $18. Acme Packet shares tumbled 11.30% to $27.40 in pre-market trading.

Breaking news

Shenandoah Telecommunications Company SHEN announced today the Company has signed Addendum XII to its Affiliate Agreement with Sprint Nextel S that paves the way to building a 4G LTE network in the Company's service area. To read the full news, click here.
The Ensign Group Inc ENSG announced today that it has acquired Park Place Assisted Living, a 60-unit assisted living facility in Reno, Nevada. To read the full news, click here.
CB&I CBI announced today that it has been awarded a contract, valued in excess of US$60 million, by Battleground Oil Specialty Terminal Company, LLC for the engineering, procurement, fabrication and construction of storage tanks and associated works for its grassroots black oil storage terminal on the Houston Ship Channel. To read the full news, click here.
US Airways Group Inc LCC today announced January 2012 traffic results. Mainline revenue passenger miles (RPMs) for the month were 4.6 billion, up 3.8 percent versus January 2011. To read the full news, click here.

Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs