US Stock Futures Up Ahead Of Economic Data

US stock futures are higher this morning, as investors are awaiting economic data. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 24 points to 14,413.00 and S&P 500 index futures rose 3.10 points to 1,550.70. Nasdaq 100 futures gained 8 points to 2,793.00. US stocks closed lower on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbling 0.44% to 14,447.75, the S&P 500 index falling 0.33% to 1,551.69 and the Nasdaq 100 index dropping 0.30% to 3,235.30. The ICSC-Goldman store sales index will be released at 7:45 a.m. ET, while data on durable goods orders for February will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET. The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index will be released at 8:55 a.m. ET, while the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index for January will be released at 9:00 a.m. ET. Data on new home sales for February, consumer confidence for March, the Richmond Fed manufacturing index for March and the State Street Investor Confidence Index for March will be released at 10:00 a.m. ET. Sonic SONC reported a rise in its said fiscal second-quarter profit. Syntroleum SYNM reported that its board has approved a 1-for-10 reverse split of its common stock. The Children's Place Retail Stores PLCE is estimated to report its Q4 earnings at $1.04 per share on revenue of $496.04 million. SAIC SAI is projected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.52 per share on revenue of $2.71 billion. Landec LNDC is expected to post its Q3 earnings at $0.17 per share on revenue of $109.51 million. Mattress Firm Holding MFRM is estimated to post its Q4 earnings at $0.32 per share on revenue of $261.54 million. European markets were higher today. The STOXX Europe 600 Index rose 0.23%, London's FTSE 100 Index gained 0.07%, French CAC 40 Index surged 0.72% and German DAX 30 index rose 0.20%. Asian markets ended mostly lower, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average falling 0.60%, China's Shanghai Composite dropping 1.25% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 declining 0.74%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 0.27% and India's Sensex rose 0.06%.