Investing.com - U.S. stock futures pointed to a moderately lower open on Wednesday, as markets were jittery ahead of upcoming U.S. jobs data as well as the highly-anticipated minutes of the Federal Reserve's latest policy-setting meeting.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.12% fall, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.13% loss, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.10% slip.
On Tuesday showed that the U.S. trade deficit shrank to the lowest level in four years in November as exports rose to a record high.
Investors remained focused on the minutes of the Fed’s December meeting, due for release later Wednesday, for indications on the possible timing of further reductions in the bank’s stimulus program.
Market participants were also eyeing Friday’s U.S. nonfarm report for December for indications of the strength of the recovery in the labor market.
The financial sector was likely to remain in focus, following reports JPMorgan Chase will have to pay USD2.6 billion to resolve criminal and civil allegations it failed to stop Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme.
The deal brought the U.S. lender's legal settlements from the past two years to more than USD29 billion. JPMorgan shares were up 0.31% in pre-market trade.
Among tech stocks, Microsoft tumbled 0.99% in early trading after Alan Mulally, chief executive officer of Ford Motor, said he plans to stay with the automaker through 2014 and therefore join the software maker.
Healthcare company WellPoint was also expected to be active, after agreeing to sell the online contact-lens site 1-800-Contacts to private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners LP.
Elsewhere, Delta Air Lines rose 0.28% in extended trading as it was forecast to experience fewer canceled flights on Wednesday thanks to warmer weather and as schedules began to return to normal after winter storms shut down more than 11,000 flights in four days.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were lower. The EURO STOXX 50 fell 0.24%, France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.24%, Germany's DAX shed 0.29%, while Britain's FTSE 100 declined 0.42%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rallied 1.25%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index jumped 1.94%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release the ADP report on private sector job creation.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.12% fall, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.13% loss, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.10% slip.
On Tuesday showed that the U.S. trade deficit shrank to the lowest level in four years in November as exports rose to a record high.
Investors remained focused on the minutes of the Fed’s December meeting, due for release later Wednesday, for indications on the possible timing of further reductions in the bank’s stimulus program.
Market participants were also eyeing Friday’s U.S. nonfarm report for December for indications of the strength of the recovery in the labor market.
The financial sector was likely to remain in focus, following reports JPMorgan Chase will have to pay USD2.6 billion to resolve criminal and civil allegations it failed to stop Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme.
The deal brought the U.S. lender's legal settlements from the past two years to more than USD29 billion. JPMorgan shares were up 0.31% in pre-market trade.
Among tech stocks, Microsoft tumbled 0.99% in early trading after Alan Mulally, chief executive officer of Ford Motor, said he plans to stay with the automaker through 2014 and therefore join the software maker.
Healthcare company WellPoint was also expected to be active, after agreeing to sell the online contact-lens site 1-800-Contacts to private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners LP.
Elsewhere, Delta Air Lines rose 0.28% in extended trading as it was forecast to experience fewer canceled flights on Wednesday thanks to warmer weather and as schedules began to return to normal after winter storms shut down more than 11,000 flights in four days.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were lower. The EURO STOXX 50 fell 0.24%, France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.24%, Germany's DAX shed 0.29%, while Britain's FTSE 100 declined 0.42%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rallied 1.25%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index jumped 1.94%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release the ADP report on private sector job creation.