A Peek Into The Markets: U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher; Symantec To Acquire Lifelock

Pre-open movers

U.S. stock futures traded slightly higher in early pre-market trade. Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer is set to speak at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York at 8:00 a.m. ET, while the Chicago Fed National Activity Index for October will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 12 points to 18,865.00, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures gained 4.50 points to 2,185.25. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index gained 11.75 points to 4,820.25.

Oil prices traded higher as Brent crude futures rose 1.98 percent to trade at $47.79 per barrel, while US WTI crude futures also rose 1.94 percent to trade at $47.26 a barrel.

A Peek Into Global Markets

European markets were mostly higher today, with the Spanish Ibex Index gaining 0.08 percent, STOXX Europe 600 Index rising 0.06 percent and German DAX 30 index gaining 0.39 percent. The UK's FTSE index was trading higher by 0.40 percent, while French CAC 40 Index gained 0.43 percent.

In Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average rose 0.77 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 0.06 percent, China’s Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.79 percent and India’s BSE Sensex declined 1.47 percent.

Broker Recommendation

Analysts at MKM Partners upgraded KBR, Inc. KBR from Neutral to Buy and raised the price target from $15.00 to $21.00.

KBR shares rose 2.15 percent to $16.60 in pre-market trading.

Breaking news

• Symantec Corporation SYMC announced plans to acquire Lifelock Inc LOCK for $2.3 billion.



• Facebook Inc FB reported a $6 billion buyback program and announced the resignation of its Chief Accounting Officer Jas Athwal.



• Novartis AG (ADR) NVS announced plans to buy Selexys Pharmaceuticals.



• Australia's Boral Ltd agreed to buy Headwaters Inc HW for $2.6 billion.