US Stock Futures Edge Higher; GM Earnings, Economic Data In Focus

US stock futures are higher this morning, as investors are awaiting earnings from General Motors Co (NYSE: GM) and weekly jobless claims data. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 20 points to 13,224.00 and S&P 500 index futures rose 2.70 points to 1,400.20. Nasdaq 100 futures surged 6.25 points to 2,733.75.
 
US stocks closed mixed on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 0.08% to 13,268.57, the S&P 500 index falling 0.25% to 1,402.31 and the Nasdaq 100 index rising 0.31% to 3,059.85.
 
Data on weekly jobless claims and Q1 productivity will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET. The ISM non-manufacturing purchasing managers index will be released at 10 a.m. ET. ECB President Mario Draghi's news conference will start at 8:30 a.m. ET.
 
General Motors Co is expected to post its Q1 earnings at $0.85 per share on sales of $37.88 billion. Cigna Corp (NYSE: CI) is estimated to report its Q1 earnings at $1.30 per share on sales of $6.59 billion. American International Group Inc (NYSE: AIG) is projected to post its Q1 EPS at $1.12 on revenue of $8.96 billion. Apache Corp (NYSE: APA) is expected to report its Q1 earnings at $3.10 per share on sales of $4.5 billion.
 
Walgreen Co (NYSE: WAG) is projected to post its FQ3 earnings at $0.63 per share on sales of $17.96 billion. Cardinal Health Co (NYSE: CAH) is estimated to post its FQ3 earnings at $0.88 per share on revenue of $26.77 billion. Sara Lee Corp (NYSE: SLE) is projected to post its Q3 EPS at $0.25 on revenue of $1.95 billion.
 
Dole Food Company Inc (NYSE: DOLE) is estimated to post its Q1 EPS at $0.31 on revenue of $1.68 billion. MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is expected to post a Q1 loss at $0.16 per share on revenue of $2.26 billion. Viacom Inc (NASDAQ: VIA) is projected to report its FQ2 earnings at $0.89 per share on revenue of $3.32 billion. Cablevision Systems Corp (NYSE: CVC) is estimated to report its Q1 earnings at $0.19 per share on revenue of $1.67 billion.
 
The Allstate Corp (NYSE: ALL) reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter results.
 
DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc (NASDAQ: DWA) reported a 3% rise in its first-quarter profit.
 
European markets were higher today. The STOXX Europe 600 Index gained 0.69%, French CAC 40 index rose 1.30%. London's FTSE 100 Index moved up 0.43% and German DAX 30 index gained 1.05%.
 
Asian markets ended mostly lower, with China's Shanghai Composite gaining 0.07% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 moving down 0.23%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dropped 0.28% and India's Sensex fell 0.81%.
 
Crude-oil futures for June delivery dropped $0.50 to $104.72 a barrel. However, gold futures for June delivery declined $10.40 to $1,643.90 an ounce.
 
The ICE dollar index (DXY) gained 0.12% to 79.27, versus 79.151 in late North American trading Wednesday.

By Monica Gerson