Investing.com - U.S. stock futures were higher on Wednesday, as markets eyed the release of U.S. government data on durable goods orders for further signs of economic recovery while concerns over the handling of Spain’s debt troubles continued to weigh.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a rise of 0.22%, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.19% increase, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.20% gain.
Investors remained focused on Spanish borrowing costs ahead of the country’s budget statement on Friday, amid concerns that the government will pull back on imposing harsh austerity measures in the face of a looming recession.
Sentiment found support earlier after Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti said earlier that the euro zone’s debt crisis is “almost over”.
Financial stocks were expected to be active as Bank of America is looking to create an international advisory board that could help steer chief executive officer Brian Moynihan's overseas strategy, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Shares in the U.S. lender jumped 1.15% in pre-market trade, while Citigroup added 0.46%.
Wells Fargo & Co saw shares slip 0.06% in after hour trade, however, after it was ordered to face a class-action lawsuit in Minnesota federal court by investors who accuse the bank of improperly touting a lending program as safe when in fact it was risky.
In the tech sector, Apple said it will email all Australian buyers of its new iPad to offer them a refund, after the nation's consumer watchdog accused it of misleading advertising over a key aspect of the product. Shares were up 0.56% in pre-market trade.
Elsewhere, energy stocks were also slated to be active as gold miner Goldcorp is reportedly considering acquiring early-stage gold projects to boost its reserve base.
In earnings, PVH Corp saw shares fall 0.35% in pre-market trade after it reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit on strong sales of its Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein brands. But, the clothing maker forecast first-quarter earnings below market estimates citing higher product costs.
On the upside, Sealy Corp surged 16.49% after the closing bell on Tuesday after posting a surprise first-quarter profit, as strong demand for its new line of higher-priced mattresses partially offset a drop in sales volumes in the middle and lower price points.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were mixed. The EURO STOXX 50 fell 0.11%, France’s CAC 40 eased up 0.06%, Germany's DAX slipped 0.15%, while Britain's FTSE 100 edged 0.09% lower.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped 1.15%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index shed 0.7%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish government data on durable goods orders, followed by a report on crude oil stockpiles.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a rise of 0.22%, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.19% increase, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.20% gain.
Investors remained focused on Spanish borrowing costs ahead of the country’s budget statement on Friday, amid concerns that the government will pull back on imposing harsh austerity measures in the face of a looming recession.
Sentiment found support earlier after Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti said earlier that the euro zone’s debt crisis is “almost over”.
Financial stocks were expected to be active as Bank of America is looking to create an international advisory board that could help steer chief executive officer Brian Moynihan's overseas strategy, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Shares in the U.S. lender jumped 1.15% in pre-market trade, while Citigroup added 0.46%.
Wells Fargo & Co saw shares slip 0.06% in after hour trade, however, after it was ordered to face a class-action lawsuit in Minnesota federal court by investors who accuse the bank of improperly touting a lending program as safe when in fact it was risky.
In the tech sector, Apple said it will email all Australian buyers of its new iPad to offer them a refund, after the nation's consumer watchdog accused it of misleading advertising over a key aspect of the product. Shares were up 0.56% in pre-market trade.
Elsewhere, energy stocks were also slated to be active as gold miner Goldcorp is reportedly considering acquiring early-stage gold projects to boost its reserve base.
In earnings, PVH Corp saw shares fall 0.35% in pre-market trade after it reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit on strong sales of its Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein brands. But, the clothing maker forecast first-quarter earnings below market estimates citing higher product costs.
On the upside, Sealy Corp surged 16.49% after the closing bell on Tuesday after posting a surprise first-quarter profit, as strong demand for its new line of higher-priced mattresses partially offset a drop in sales volumes in the middle and lower price points.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were mixed. The EURO STOXX 50 fell 0.11%, France’s CAC 40 eased up 0.06%, Germany's DAX slipped 0.15%, while Britain's FTSE 100 edged 0.09% lower.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped 1.15%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index shed 0.7%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish government data on durable goods orders, followed by a report on crude oil stockpiles.