US Stock Futures Slightly Higher Ahead Of ADP Report

US stock futures are slightly higher this morning, as investors are awaiting the ADP private-sector employment data. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 11 points to 13,422.00 and S&P 500 index futures rose 0.90 points to 1,441.80. Nasdaq 100 futures gained 6.25 points to 2,801.50. US stocks closed mixed on Tuesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 0.24% to 13,482.36, the S&P 500 index rising 0.09% to 1,445.75 and the Nasdaq 100 index gaining 0.21% to 3,120.04. The ADP private-sector employment data will be released at 8:15 a.m. ET. The ISM's non-manufacturing survey of business confidence will be released at 10 a.m. ET. Monsanto Co

is projected to report its Q4 earnings at $0.43 per share on sales of $2.22 billion. Marriott International

is expected to post its Q3 earnings at $0.40 per share on revenue of $2.65 billion. RPM International

is projected to report its FQ1 earnings at $0.64 per share on revenue of $1.08 billion. Family Dollar Stores

is projected to report its Q4 earnings at $0.75 per share on sales of $2.36 billion. Resources Connection

posted a surge in its first quarter profit. Xyratex Ltd

posted downbeat third-quarter results. It also expects a loss for its current quarter. European markets were mostly higher today. The STOXX Europe 600 Index rose 0.04%, London's FTSE 100 Index surged 0.14%, French CAC 40 Index dropped 0.02% and German DAX 30 index rose 0.30%. Asian markets ended mostly higher, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average dropping 0.45% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rising 0.15%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained 0.23% and India's Sensex rose 0.24%. The Chinese nonmanufacturing PMI declined to 53.7 in September, versus 56.3 in August. The ICE dollar index (DXY) gained 0.03% to trade at 79.77, up from 79.735 in North American trading late Tuesday. The euro gained 0.02% versus the dollar to trade at $1.2923, up from $1.2921 in North American trading late Tuesday. The US dollar rose 0.07% against the Japanese yen to trade at ¥78.23, up from ¥78.13 Tuesday. Gold for December futures gained $5 to trade at $1,780.60 an ounce.