Investing.com - Wall Street futures pointed to a higher open on Tuesday as market participants looked ahead to September inflation data that could place pressure on the Federal Reserve (Fed) to embark in policy normalization this year while investors eyed a slew of earnings.
The blue-chip Dow futures gained 67 points, or 0.37%, by 6:59AM ET (10:59GMT), the S&P 500 futures rose 10 points, or 0.47%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 futures traded up 26 points, or 0.53%.
U.S. inflation data will be in the spotlight on Tuesday, as investors attempt to gauge if the world's largest economy is strong enough to withstand an increase in borrowing costs before the end of the year.
The Commerce Department will publish September inflation figures at 8:30AM ET (12:30GMT). Market analysts expect consumer prices (CPI) to ease up 0.3%, while core inflation is forecast to increase 0.2%.
On a yearly base, core CPI is projected to climb 2.3%. Core prices are viewed by the Federal Reserve as a better gauge of longer-term inflationary pressure because they exclude the volatile food and energy categories. The central bank usually tries to aim for 2% core inflation or less.
Rising inflation would be a catalyst to push the Fed toward raising interest rates.
Though Fed chair Janet Yellen discussed last Friday the possibility of running a “high-pressure economy” which might imply allowing inflation to rise beyond the target 2%, her number two, vice chair Stanley Fischer, suggested on Monday that, with the U.S. close to maximum employment and the preferred inflation level, changing targets when being so close would be a “problem”.
For the moment, markets are currently pricing in only a 7.2% chance of a rate hike at November's meeting, according to Investing.com's Fed Rate Monitor Tool.
Odds on an increase in December stood at 69.2%.
On the company front, earnings season was in full swing.
Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) appeared set to be the big winner with shares surging more than 19% in pre-market trade. After the close on Monday, the online television service said it added much more subscribers than estimated in the third quarter.
Also after Tuesday’s close, and among Dow components, shares of IBM (NYSE:IBM) were down 2.6% in the pre-market despite the fact that the tech services firm beat consensus on both the top and bottom line. Investors appeared to lose heart on the fact that the 0.3% drop in revenue was its 18th consecutive decline.
Also among blue chips, UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) could see upside after earnings-per-share (EPS) beat by nine cents with revenue also topping expectations.
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), meanwhile, gained 0.8% in pre-market trade after both profit and sales beat forecasts.
Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) was set to report before the bell at 7:30AM ET (11:30GMT) while Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) would release earnings after the market close.
Accompanying Intel after the closing bell, although outside the blue-chip index, eyes would also follow Yahoo’s quarterly report.
Meanwhile, oil prices were higher on Tuesday, following an overnight decline, as market players awaited details of a planned output cut by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
In bullish news, Saudi Arabian crude exports fell to 7.305 million barrels in August, from 7.622 million in the prior month, according to figures published by the Joint Organizations Data initiative (JODI), as reported by CNBC.
A drop in the U.S. dollar away from seven-month highs also supported crude, as a lower greenback makes fuel purchases cheaper for countries using other currencies.
Gains in crude took the barrel of West Texas Intermediate oil back over the $50 mark on Tuesday.
U.S. crude futures traded up 0.94% to $50.41 by 7:01AM ET (11:01GMT), while Brent oil gained 0.76% to $51.91.