A Peek Into The Market Before The Trading Starts

Pre-open movers US stock futures are mixed this morning, as investors are awaiting jobless claims data. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 4 points to 12,290.00 and S&P 500 index futures fell 0.40 point to 1,323.50. Nasdaq 100 futures dropped 1 point to 2,333.50. A Peek Into Global Markets Negative sentiment ruled the European markets today. While STOXX Europe 600 Index has dropped 0.55%, London's FTSE 100 Index moved down 0.17%. Most Asian markets ended higher, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average gaining 0.48%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 moving up 0.32% and China's Shanghai Composite dropping 0.94%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.32%. Broker Recommendation Analysts at Auriga upgraded NetLogic Microsystems Inc NETL from “hold” to “buy.” The target price for NETL has been raised from $39 to $49. NETL shares fell 0.49% to close at $42.23 yesterday. Breaking news

• Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated VRTX today announced interim results from an ongoing Phase 2 study designed to assess the safety and tolerability of 12-week response-guided treatment regimens with its polymerase inhibitor, VX-222, and its protease inhibitor, telaprevir, in combination with pegylated-interferon and ribavirin in people with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C who were new to treatment. To read the full news, click here.
• BlackRock, Inc. BLK and Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. MFG announced today that they have signed a Business Alliance Agreement that will further promote strategic cooperation between the two firms in Japan and Asia. To read the full news, click here.
• Lawson Software, Inc. LWSN today reported financial results for its third quarter of fiscal year 2011, which ended Feb. 28, 2011. As reported under generally accepted accounting principles revenues were $196 million with operating income of $22.3 million and net income of $21.4 million, or diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.13. To read the full news, click here.
• Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. VNDA today announced its plans to initiate a Phase IIb/III clinical trial of tasimelteon in patients with Major Depressive Disorder. To read the full news, click here.

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