Investing.com - U.S. stock futures pointed to a moderately higher open on Monday, ahead of U.S. economic reports as positive comments by Federal Reserve Chairman supported sentiment, while downbeat Chinese service sector data weighed.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.15% rise, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.15% increase, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.08% gain.
On Friday, Bernanke said the U.S. economy should continue to improve in 2014, but added that the recovery remains incomplete.
But markets were jittery after data over the weekend showed that activity in China’s services sector slumped to the weakest level since August 2011 in December, fuelling concerns over the outlook for growth in the world’s second largest economy.
The tech sector was likely to be in focus, amid reports Apple is facing pressure from some shareholders to add more female directors and executives.
The iPhone maker, down 0.04% in pre-market trade, was said to have addressed the criticism by adding language to its corporate charter vowing to diversify its board.
Intel edged up 0.16% in early trading, as Chief Executive Officer Brian Krzanich was preparing to take the stage at the International Consumer Electronics Show on Monday. According to Bloomberg, Krzanich is set to feature a first public showing of some of the mobile and wearable technology from Intel’s New Devices division.
The auto sector was also expected to be active, following reports Chevrolet sales soared 25% in 2013, as U.S. auto sales post their the fourth consecutive year of rising. Shares in General Motors still declined 0.43% pre-market, following the news.
In the financial field, JPMorgan Chase was reportedly planning to reach this week around USD2 billion in criminal and civil settlements with federal authorities who suspect that it ignored signs of Bernard L. Madoff's Ponzi scheme.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were higher. The EURO STOXX 50 edged up 0.12%, France’s CAC 40 dipped 0.01%, Germany's DAX added 0.13%, while Britain's FTSE 100 eased 0.09%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped 0.58%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index plunged 2.35%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish data on factory orders, while the Institute of Supply Management was to release data on service sector activity.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.15% rise, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.15% increase, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.08% gain.
On Friday, Bernanke said the U.S. economy should continue to improve in 2014, but added that the recovery remains incomplete.
But markets were jittery after data over the weekend showed that activity in China’s services sector slumped to the weakest level since August 2011 in December, fuelling concerns over the outlook for growth in the world’s second largest economy.
The tech sector was likely to be in focus, amid reports Apple is facing pressure from some shareholders to add more female directors and executives.
The iPhone maker, down 0.04% in pre-market trade, was said to have addressed the criticism by adding language to its corporate charter vowing to diversify its board.
Intel edged up 0.16% in early trading, as Chief Executive Officer Brian Krzanich was preparing to take the stage at the International Consumer Electronics Show on Monday. According to Bloomberg, Krzanich is set to feature a first public showing of some of the mobile and wearable technology from Intel’s New Devices division.
The auto sector was also expected to be active, following reports Chevrolet sales soared 25% in 2013, as U.S. auto sales post their the fourth consecutive year of rising. Shares in General Motors still declined 0.43% pre-market, following the news.
In the financial field, JPMorgan Chase was reportedly planning to reach this week around USD2 billion in criminal and civil settlements with federal authorities who suspect that it ignored signs of Bernard L. Madoff's Ponzi scheme.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were higher. The EURO STOXX 50 edged up 0.12%, France’s CAC 40 dipped 0.01%, Germany's DAX added 0.13%, while Britain's FTSE 100 eased 0.09%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped 0.58%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index plunged 2.35%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish data on factory orders, while the Institute of Supply Management was to release data on service sector activity.