US Stock Futures Edge Higher Ahead Of Jobs Data

US stock futures rose in early pre-market trade, ahead of economic data. Data on nonfarm payroll employment for October, and personal income and outlays for September will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET. The Reuter's/University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index for September will be released at 9:55 a.m. ET. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is expected to speak at 3:30 p.m. ET. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 6 points to 15,573.00, while the Standard & Poor's 500 index futures rose 2.60 points to 1,747.80. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index surged 9.50 points to 3,329.00.

European markets were lower today, with the Spanish Ibex Index falling 0.76%, London's FTSE 100 index dropping 0.47% and STOXX Europe 600 Index declining 0.80%. German DAX 30 index fell 0.70% and French CAC 40 Index declined 1.05%. Germany's trade surplus rose to 18.8 billion euros ($25.2 billion) in September, versus a revised EUR15.8 billion in August. Asian markets ended lower today. Japan's Nikkei Stock Average tumbled 1%, China's Shanghai Composite dropped 1.09%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declined 0.60% and India's BSE Sensex tumbled 0.75%. China's exports climbed 5.6% y/y in October, versus a 0.3% fall in September.

Analysts at Goldman Sachs downgraded Whole Foods Market

from “buy” to “neutral.” The target price for Whole Foods Market has been lowered from $66 to $57. Whole Foods Market's shares closed at $57.26 yesterday.