A Peek Into The Market Before The Trading Starts - Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX), Ampio Pharmaceuticals (OTC:AMPE)

Pre-open movers

US stock futures are higher this morning. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 61 points to 14,041.00 and S&P 500 index futures rose 7.10 points to 1,521.70. Nasdaq 100 futures gained 18 points to 2,753.75.

A Peek Into Global Markets

European markets were higher today. The STOXX Europe 600 Index rose 0.55%, London's FTSE 100 Index surged 1.40%, French CAC 40 Index rose 1.70% and German DAX 30 index gained 2.43%. Asian markets ended higher, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average gaining 2.43%, China's Shanghai Composite rising 0.50% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rising 0.71%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 0.17% and India's Sensex rose 0.08%.

Broker Recommendation

Analysts at UBS upgraded Perrigo Co

PRGO

from “neutral” to “buy.” The target price for Perrigo has been raised from $115 to $130. Perrigo shares surged 0.92% to $114.35 in pre-market trading.

Breaking news

RP Management LLC today announced that contact was made on Monday February 18, 2013 with the Chairman of the Board of Elan Corporation plc ELN, followed by a meeting then taking place on Wednesday February 20, 2013, at which an indicative proposal was made to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Elan. To read the full news, click here.
Quest Diagnostics DGX today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its HemoCue diagnostic products business to Radiometer Medical ApS for a purchase price of approximately $300 million plus customary adjustments for cash balances. To read the full news, click here.
Lowe's Companies LOW reported an 11% drop in its fiscal-fourth-quarter net income. To read the full news, click here.
Ampio Pharmaceuticals AMPE announced today that its Phase III clinical study of Ampion for the treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee will include a dose-escalation run-in study as recommended by the FDA. To read the full news, click here.

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