Futures Climb Amid EU Hopes; Best Buy Soars
U.S. stock index futures were slightly higher Monday, following a sharp rally last Friday after a better-than-expected government jobs and amid ongoing expectations that the ECB would step in to address the region's debt crisis.
U.S. stocks snapped a 4-day losing streak on Friday to reach 3-month highs after non-farm payrolls rose by a seasonally adjusted 163,000 in July. Meanwhile, a gain in the unemployment rate to 8.3 percent from 8.2 percent was viewed by market participants as keeping the door open for further economic stimulus measures from the Federal Reserve.
Meanwhile, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said although broad measurements of the economy point to recovery, many people and businesses are still facing tough times. He did not discuss the outlook for monetary policy or refer to the recent jobs report.
Knight Capital Group announced a $400 million dealwith a group of investors that will help the company in business. The deal is expected to close later this morning. Knight Capital plunged more than 30 percent in pre-market trading.
Best Buy soared more than 20 percent in pre-market trading after founder Richard Schulze, who resigned from the company's board earlier this month, offered to buy the consumer electronics retailer for between $24 and $26 a share.
Las Vegas Sands edged lower after the resort company became the target of a federal investigation amid possible violations of U.S. money-laundering laws, according to reports.
Among earnings, Cognizant Technology jumped after the information technology services provider boosted its full-year adjusted profit forecast.
On the economic front, the Conference Board is scheduled to release its U.S. Employment Trends Index for July at 10 a.m. ET.
European shares reached 4-month highs, boosted renewed optimism that the ECB will commence purchasing Italian and Spanish debt next month.
Coming Up This Week:
TUESDAY: 3-yr note auction, Bernanke speaks, consumer credit; Earnings from Cablevision, Sirius XM, Disney
WEDNESDAY: Weekly mortgage apps, productivity & costs, oil inventories, 10-yr note auction, AmEx investor mtg, Kodak patent auction, McDonald's same-store sales; Earnings from Computer Sciences, Dean Foods, Macy's, Ralph Lauren, Rio Tinto, Soda Stream, NewsCorp
THURSDAY: International trade, jobless claims, wholesale trade, 30-yr bond auction, Manchester United pricing; Earnings from Advanced Auto Parts, Kohl's, Nordstrom
FRIDAY: Import/export prices, USDA crop production report, Manchester United IPO; Earnings from JCPenney
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