A Peek Into The Markets: U.S. Stock Futures Up Ahead Of Housing Starts, Consumer Sentiment Data

Pre-open movers

U.S. stock futures traded higher in early pre-market trade. Data on housing starts and permits for May will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET, while the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index for June is schedule for release at 10:00 a.m. ET. Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Robert Kaplan is set to speak in Dallas at 12:45 p.m. ET.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 26 points to 21,389.00, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures rose 3.75 points to 2,438.00. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index gained 10.25 points to 5,712.75.

Oil prices traded higher as Brent crude futures rose 1.34 percent to trade at $47.55 per barrel, while US WTI crude futures gained 0.92 percent to trade at $44.87 a barrel. The Baker Hughes North American rig count report for the latest week is schedule for release at 1:00 p.m. ET.

A Peek Into Global Markets

European markets were higher today, with the Spanish Ibex Index rising 0.18 percent, STOXX Europe 600 Index surging 0.53 percent and German DAX 30 index gaining 0.28 percent. The UK's FTSE index was trading higher by 0.61 percent, while French CAC 40 Index rose 0.68 percent.

In Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average rose 0.56 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 0.24 percent, China’s Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.30 percent and India’s BSE Sensex fell 0.06 percent.

Broker Recommendation

Analysts at JP Morgan downgraded Kroger Co KR from Overweight to Neutral.

Kroger shares fell 18.89 percent to close at $24.56 on Thursday.

Breaking news

• Finisar Corporation FNSR reported in-line earnings for its fourth quarter, but issued a weak forecast for the current quarter.



• Shares of Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation BAH dropped around 16 percent in pre-market trading as the company reported a DoJ civil and criminal investigation regarding cost accounting and cost charging practices.



• Shares of Celsion Corporation CLSN jumped over 110 percent in pre-market trading after withdrawing stock offering. T



• Shares of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. HOS surged around 17 percent in pre-market trading after the company reported a $300 million credit facility.