A Peek Into The Markets: US Stock Futures Signal Higher Start On Wall Street

Pre-open movers

U.S. stock futures traded higher in early pre-market trade after the Dow Jones tumbled more than 500 points in the previous session.

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for May will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET. The index is expected to rise to 0.50 for May from 0.24 in April.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 212 points to 33,367.00 while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures gained 22.25 points at 4,175.75. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index rose 81.75 points to 14,116.75.

The U.S. has the highest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the world, with total infections in the country exceeding 33,541,880 with around 601,820 deaths. India reported a total of at least 29,881,770 confirmed cases, while Brazil confirmed over 17,927,920 cases.

Oil prices traded higher as Brent crude futures rose 0.5% to trade at $73.87 per barrel, while US WTI crude futures rose 0.6% to trade at $72.06 a barrel. The total number of active U.S. oil rigs climbed by 8 to 373 rigs this week, Baker Hughes Inc reported Friday.

A Peek Into Global Markets

European markets were higher today. The Spanish Ibex Index rose 0.1% and STOXX Europe 600 Index gained 0.3%. The French CAC 40 Index rose 0.1%, London’s FTSE 100 rose 0.2% while German DAX 30 gained 0.4%.

Asian markets traded mostly lower today. Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 3.29%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 1.08% and China’s Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.12%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.8% and India’s BSE Sensex rose 0.4%. Retail sales in Australia increased 0.1% in following a 1.1% growth a month ago. The People's Bank of China held its benchmark interest rates steady for the 14th consecutive month.

Broker Recommendation

Compass Point initiated coverage on Riot Blockchain, Inc. RIOT with a Buy rating and announced a price target of $43.

Riot Blockchain shares fell 6.2% to $30.20 in pre-market trading.

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Breaking News

• CNH Industrial N.V. CNHI announced plans to acquire Raven Industries, Inc. RAVN for $58 per share in cash.
• Deutsche Bank DB and Fiserv, Inc. FISV announced a joint venture for payment acceptance in Germany.
• Pfizer Inc PFE COVID-19 vaccine received provisional approval for use in the age group 12 to 15 from New Zealand's medical regulator, Stuff reported.
• Beigene Ltd BGNE disclosed that BRUKINSA received an approval from the China National Medical Products Administration for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia.

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