Investing.com - U.S. stock futures pointed to a higher open on Wednesday, as markets eyed the release of a U.S. durable goods orders report later in the day, while weak data from the euro zone fuelled expectations for a rate cut by the European Central Bank.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.14% gain, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.14% rise, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.17% increase.
Stocks found support amid mounting speculation over a rate cut by the ECB after a report showed that the Ifo index of German business climate fell to a four month low of 104.4 in April from 106.7 in March.
The data came one day after a report showed that Germany’s manufacturing and service sectors contracted in April.
Tech stocks were expected to be active, after Apple on Tuesday bowed to investors' demands to share more of its USD145 billion cash pile.
The iPhone maker also posted its first quarterly profit decline in more than a decade after market close. Shares were still up 0.19% in pre-market trade.
Virgin Media was also likely to be in focus, after the cable operator reported a 54% rise in first quarter free cash flow and announced a series of major business deals.
In company news, OPKO Health announced the acquisition of Israel-based biopharmaceutical company Prolor Biotech in an all-stock deal valued at USD480 million to expand its portfolio of specialty drugs.
Shares in the U.S. pharmaceutical company plummeted 3.40% in early trading.
Also on the downside, AT&T shares tumbled 1.58% in late trading, after the company reported a net loss of cellphone subscribers in the first quarter.
Elsewhere, Yum Brands on Tuesday reported that quarterly profit fell less than market expectations, despite a sharp drop in sales in its top China market, sending shares up 3.68% pre-market.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were higher. The EURO STOXX 50 climbed 0.55%, France’s CAC 40 gained 0.46%, Germany's DAX advanced 0.52%, while Britain's FTSE 100 added 0.07%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index jumped 1.73%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index rallied 2.19%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to produce government data on durable goods orders.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.14% gain, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.14% rise, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.17% increase.
Stocks found support amid mounting speculation over a rate cut by the ECB after a report showed that the Ifo index of German business climate fell to a four month low of 104.4 in April from 106.7 in March.
The data came one day after a report showed that Germany’s manufacturing and service sectors contracted in April.
Tech stocks were expected to be active, after Apple on Tuesday bowed to investors' demands to share more of its USD145 billion cash pile.
The iPhone maker also posted its first quarterly profit decline in more than a decade after market close. Shares were still up 0.19% in pre-market trade.
Virgin Media was also likely to be in focus, after the cable operator reported a 54% rise in first quarter free cash flow and announced a series of major business deals.
In company news, OPKO Health announced the acquisition of Israel-based biopharmaceutical company Prolor Biotech in an all-stock deal valued at USD480 million to expand its portfolio of specialty drugs.
Shares in the U.S. pharmaceutical company plummeted 3.40% in early trading.
Also on the downside, AT&T shares tumbled 1.58% in late trading, after the company reported a net loss of cellphone subscribers in the first quarter.
Elsewhere, Yum Brands on Tuesday reported that quarterly profit fell less than market expectations, despite a sharp drop in sales in its top China market, sending shares up 3.68% pre-market.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were higher. The EURO STOXX 50 climbed 0.55%, France’s CAC 40 gained 0.46%, Germany's DAX advanced 0.52%, while Britain's FTSE 100 added 0.07%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index jumped 1.73%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index rallied 2.19%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to produce government data on durable goods orders.