A Peek Into The Market Before The Trading Starts

Pre-open movers US stock futures are slightly higher this morning as investors are awaiting economic reports and corporate results. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 10 points to 12,718.00 and S&P 500 index futures rose 1 point to 1,355.90. Futures on the Nasdaq 100 rose 2.75 points to 2,404.50. A Peek Into Global Markets European markets were higher today, with the STOXX Europe 600 Index rising 0.11%. Most Asian markets ended lower, with Australia's S&P/ASX 200 moving down 1.07% and China's Shanghai Composite gaining 0.84%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.36% and India's Sensex lost 0.83%. Markets in Japan and London were closed for national holidays. Broker Recommendation Analysts at Jefferies & Company downgraded Research In Motion RIMM from “buy” to “underperform.” The target price for RIMM has been lowered from $80 to $35. RIMM shares tumbled 11.15% to $50.28 in pre-market trading. Breaking news

• Weyerhaeuser Co WY swung to a Q1 profit from a loss in the year-earlier period. To read the full news, click here.
• Private equity firm Blackstone BX and Callaway Golf ELY, the maker of the Big Bertha driver, are reportedly mulling a partnership to bid for Fortune Brands' FO golf business. To read the full news, click here.
• Merck & Co MRK reported more than three-fold surge in its Q1 net income. To read the full news, click here.
• NeurogesX, Inc. NGSX, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel pain management therapies, today announced that long time CEO Anthony DiTonno will retire by December 31, 2011. To read the full news, click here.

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