Investing.com - U.S. stock futures were mixed to lower on Wednesday, after downbeat euro zone economic data while uncertainty over Greece’s ability to honor the terms of its new bailout deal continued to weigh on sentiment.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a fall of -0.01%, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.04% decline, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.01% gain.
Preliminary data showed earlier that manufacturing activity in the euro zone improved less-than-expected in February, remaining in contraction territory for the seventh consecutive month, while service sector activity in the euro zone unexpectedly contracted.
Meanwhile, investors remained cautious amid uncertainty over Greece’s ability to implement the terms of a EUR130 billion bailout package approved by euro zone finance ministers on Tuesday.
Shares in the auto sector were expected to be active after media reports said PSA Peugeot Citroen, Europe's second-biggest car maker, was in advanced discussions with General Motors over a potential alliance.
General Motors saw shares jump 1.07% in pre-market trade.
Meanwhile, Apple shares declined 0.16% in pre-market trade as a Shanghai court began hearing on Wednesday a case brought by a Chinese technology firm seeking to halt the sale of Apple's iPads across the Chinese city, accusing the U.S. firm of trademark infringement.
Also in the tech field, Dell, the third-largest maker of personal computers, said Tuesday after market close that first-quarter revenue will decrease 7% to USD14.9 billion, sending shares down 6.21%.
Brightpoint Inc., a wholesaler of mobile phones, also dropped 5.40% in after hour trade after reducing its forecast for adjusted earnings per share.
Elsewhere, financial stocks were slated to be in focus as European lenders affected by the euro zone data. Shares in Citigroup and Bank of America slipped 0.15% and 0.25% respectively in pre-market trade.
In addition, Wells Fargo & Co said it is buying an energy lending business from BNP Paribas in the U.S. bank's latest acquisition from a European bank seeking to shrink its balance sheet.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were lower. The EURO STOXX 50 dropped 0.67%, France’s CAC 40 retreated 0.38%, Germany's DAX tumbled 0.72%, while Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.32%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index eased up 0.25%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.95%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish industry data on existing home sales.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a fall of -0.01%, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.04% decline, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.01% gain.
Preliminary data showed earlier that manufacturing activity in the euro zone improved less-than-expected in February, remaining in contraction territory for the seventh consecutive month, while service sector activity in the euro zone unexpectedly contracted.
Meanwhile, investors remained cautious amid uncertainty over Greece’s ability to implement the terms of a EUR130 billion bailout package approved by euro zone finance ministers on Tuesday.
Shares in the auto sector were expected to be active after media reports said PSA Peugeot Citroen, Europe's second-biggest car maker, was in advanced discussions with General Motors over a potential alliance.
General Motors saw shares jump 1.07% in pre-market trade.
Meanwhile, Apple shares declined 0.16% in pre-market trade as a Shanghai court began hearing on Wednesday a case brought by a Chinese technology firm seeking to halt the sale of Apple's iPads across the Chinese city, accusing the U.S. firm of trademark infringement.
Also in the tech field, Dell, the third-largest maker of personal computers, said Tuesday after market close that first-quarter revenue will decrease 7% to USD14.9 billion, sending shares down 6.21%.
Brightpoint Inc., a wholesaler of mobile phones, also dropped 5.40% in after hour trade after reducing its forecast for adjusted earnings per share.
Elsewhere, financial stocks were slated to be in focus as European lenders affected by the euro zone data. Shares in Citigroup and Bank of America slipped 0.15% and 0.25% respectively in pre-market trade.
In addition, Wells Fargo & Co said it is buying an energy lending business from BNP Paribas in the U.S. bank's latest acquisition from a European bank seeking to shrink its balance sheet.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were lower. The EURO STOXX 50 dropped 0.67%, France’s CAC 40 retreated 0.38%, Germany's DAX tumbled 0.72%, while Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.32%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index eased up 0.25%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.95%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish industry data on existing home sales.