A Peek Into The Markets: U.S. Stock Futures Signal Higher Start On Wall Street

Pre-open movers

U.S. stock futures traded higher in early pre-market trade. New York Federal Reserve Bank President William Dudley is set to speak in Plattsburg, NY at 8:00 a.m. ET, while President Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Charles Evans will speak in New York City at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 76 points to 21,409.00, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures rose 8 points to 2,439.00. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index gained 41.50 points to 5,725.50.

Oil prices traded higher as Brent crude futures rose 0.57 percent to trade at $47.64 per barrel, while US WTI crude futures gained 0.47 percent to trade at $44.95 a barrel.

A Peek Into Global Markets

European markets were higher today, with the Spanish Ibex Index rising 0.88 percent, STOXX Europe 600 Index surging 0.67 percent and German DAX 30 index gaining 0.83 percent. The UK's FTSE index was trading higher by 0.46 percent, while French CAC 40 Index rose 0.91 percent.

In Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average rose 0.62 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 1.16 percent, China’s Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.68 percent and India’s BSE Sensex gained 0.82 percent.

Broker Recommendation

Analysts at downgraded Kroger Co KR from Overweight to Equal-Weight.

Kroger shares rose 1.62 percent to $22.65 in pre-market trading.

Breaking news

• New Media Investment Group Inc NEWM announced plans to acquire Calkins Media for $17.5 million.



• Azure Power Global Ltd AZRE reported a Q4 loss of $0.20 per share on sales of $20.32 million.



• Gilead Sciences, Inc. GILD disclosed that it has received an approval in Canada for VEMLIDY for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection.



• Shares of Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc VRX gained 4.5 percent in pre-market trading after the company reported that John Paulson joined its board of directors.