Courtesy of Benzinga.
Pre-open movers
US stock futures traded higher in early pre-market trade. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is expected to post its quarterly results after the closing bell. The Markit PMI services index (flash) for April will be released at 9:45 a.m. ET, while the Dallas Fed general business activity index for April will be released at 10:30 a.m. ET. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 39.50 points to 18,056.50, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures rose 5.20 points to 2,116.95. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index jumped 11.95 points to 4,541.20.
A Peek Into Global Markets
European markets were mixed today, with the Spanish Ibex Index dropping 0.17 percent, STOXX Europe 600 Index surging 0.13 percent and German DAX 30 index rising 0.48 percent. French CAC 40 Index slipped 0.14 percent and London’s FTSE 100 Index rose 0.26 percent.
In Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average fell 0.18 percent, China’s Shanghai Composite Index climbed 3.04 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 1.33 percent and India’s BSE Sensex fell 0.95 percent.
Broker Recommendation
Analysts at Nomura downgraded American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) from Buy to Neutral and lowered the price target from $91.00 to $82.00.
American Express shares fell 0.92 percent to $77.27 in pre-market trading.
Breaking news
- Aehr Test Systems (NASDAQ: AEHR) today announced it has received an order from a new customer for a FOX-15 Multi-Wafer Test and Burn-In System, multiple WaferPak™ contactors and a WaferPak Aligner. To read the full news, click here.
- Mariano Costamagna, CEO of Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSYS) announced today that he plans to retire from this position by the end of 2015 after ten years of service to the Company. The Board has appointed a search committee to commence a search for a new CEO. To read the full news, click here.
- Deutsche Bank AG (USA) (NYSE: DB) today announced the next phase of its strategy, covering the period through to 2020. The Bank’s announcement covers key strategic decisions, division-specific initiatives and financial targets. To read the full news, click here.
- Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a new share repurchase program authorizing up to $3 billion in repurchases over the next three years beginning in the third quarter of fiscal 2015. To read the full news, click here.
Posted-In: Nomura US Stock FuturesNews Eurozone Futures Global Pre-Market Outlook Markets
