A Peek Into The Markets: U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher Ahead Of Existing-Home Sales Data

Pre-open movers

U.S. stock futures traded higher in early pre-market trade. The Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index for June is schedule for release at 9:00 a.m. ET, while data on existing home sales for July will be released at 10:00 a.m. ET.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 8 points to 18,536.00, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures rose 1.50 points to 2,186.75. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index climbed 3.50 points to 4,820.50.

Oil prices traded lower as Brent crude futures declined 0.92 percent to trade at $49.50 per barrel, while US WTI crude futures also fell 1.66 percent to trade at $47.30 a barrel. The Energy Information Administration’s weekly report on petroleum inventories is schedule for release at 10:30 a.m. ET.

A Peek Into Global Markets

European markets were higher today, with the Spanish Ibex Index surging 0.74 percent, STOXX Europe 600 Index rising 0.52 percent and German DAX 30 index gaining 0.46 percent. The UK's FTSE index was trading lower by 0.13 percent, while French CAC 40 Index climbed 0.65 percent.

In Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average rose 0.61 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.77 percent, China’s Shanghai Composite Index declined 0.12 percent and India’s BSE Sensex rose 0.25 percent.

Broker Recommendation

Analysts at Argus Research downgraded WhiteWave Foods Co WWAV from Buy to Sell.

WhiteWave Foods shares rose 0.24 percent to close at $55.40 on Tuesday.

Breaking news

• Express Inc. EXPR reported downbeat results for its fiscal second quarter and issued a weak outlook for the third quarter and full year. To read the full news, click here.



• Intuit Inc. INTU reported better-than-expected Q4 results, but issued a weak revenue forecast for the current quarter. To read the full news, click here.



• First Defiance Financial FDEF announced plans to acquire Commercial Bancshares, Inc. \OH CMOH for $51 per share.



• Nimble Storage Inc NMBL posted upbeat results for the second quarter on Tuesday. To read the full news, click here.