Investing.com - U.S. stock futures pointed to a steady open on Wednesday, after the release of positive Chinese trade balance data, while trading volumes were expected to remain limited as no major U.S. data was to be released.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.09% rise, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.07% gain, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.13% increase.
Stocks found support after official data showed that Chinese imports and exports rose more than expected in April, indicating that the outlook for economic growth remains good.
China's exports rose 14.7% year-on-year last month, while imports grew 16.8%, bringing the country’s trade surplus to USD18.6 billion for the month, above expectations for a surplus of USD 15.05 billion.
Meanwhile, investors continued to eye the ECB's next move amid growing expectations for another rate cut after the central bank's president Mario Draghi said Monday the ECB would monitor all euro zone economic data in the coming weeks and was ready to act if needed.
Among earnings, the Walt Disney Company reported earnings and revenue that beat market expectations for the first quarter on strength in its parks and recreation and studio businesses.
The company still saw shares drop 0.86% in after-hour trade.
Adding to losses, Symantec Corp. plummeted 4.88% in late trading, after saying quarterly sales and revenue will miss analyst estimates.
On the upside, Whole Foods Market posted better-than-estimated earnings and raised its full-year profit forecast, seding shares surging 6.79% in early trading.
Electronic Arts soared 7.88% in extended trading, after the video-game maker predicted annual profit that exceeded analyst projections.
Other stocks in focus included Liberty Media, AOL, Lamar Advertising and Sodastream, expected to report earnings later in the day.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were higher. The EURO STOXX 50 gained 0.36%, France’s CAC 40 advanced 0.66%, Germany's DAX climbed 0.52%, while Britain's FTSE 100 added 0.23%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 0.86%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index advanced 0.74%.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.09% rise, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.07% gain, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.13% increase.
Stocks found support after official data showed that Chinese imports and exports rose more than expected in April, indicating that the outlook for economic growth remains good.
China's exports rose 14.7% year-on-year last month, while imports grew 16.8%, bringing the country’s trade surplus to USD18.6 billion for the month, above expectations for a surplus of USD 15.05 billion.
Meanwhile, investors continued to eye the ECB's next move amid growing expectations for another rate cut after the central bank's president Mario Draghi said Monday the ECB would monitor all euro zone economic data in the coming weeks and was ready to act if needed.
Among earnings, the Walt Disney Company reported earnings and revenue that beat market expectations for the first quarter on strength in its parks and recreation and studio businesses.
The company still saw shares drop 0.86% in after-hour trade.
Adding to losses, Symantec Corp. plummeted 4.88% in late trading, after saying quarterly sales and revenue will miss analyst estimates.
On the upside, Whole Foods Market posted better-than-estimated earnings and raised its full-year profit forecast, seding shares surging 6.79% in early trading.
Electronic Arts soared 7.88% in extended trading, after the video-game maker predicted annual profit that exceeded analyst projections.
Other stocks in focus included Liberty Media, AOL, Lamar Advertising and Sodastream, expected to report earnings later in the day.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were higher. The EURO STOXX 50 gained 0.36%, France’s CAC 40 advanced 0.66%, Germany's DAX climbed 0.52%, while Britain's FTSE 100 added 0.23%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 0.86%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index advanced 0.74%.