A Peek Into The Market Before The Trading Starts

Pre-open movers US stock futures are higher this morning. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 30 points to 12,075, while those for the S&P 500 index gained 3.4 points to 1,311. Futures for the Nasdaq Composite rose 5.25 points to 2,343. A Peek Into Global Markets Positive sentiment ruled the European markets today. While STOXX Europe 600 Index has gained 0.71%, London's FTSE 100 Index moved up 0.66%. Asian markets ended higher, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average adding 0.46% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 moving up 0.11%. Broker Recommendation Wunderlich Securities raised its Cisco Systems CSCO price target to $24 from $22 in a research report published today. Wunderlich Securities has previously given Cisco Systems a Hold rating. In the report, Wunderlich Securities states, "Cisco (CSCO) reports 2Q11 Wednesday after the close. During 2Q11 we believe inventory conditions in commercial channels improved and demand remains firm with enterprise accounts. We are raising our forecast to the low end of the full-year goal of 9%-12% revenue growth management targeted during the last earnings call. Our price target increase to $24 from $22 reflects a slight forecast increase, the effect of time on our intrinsic value calculation, and the view that prospects will improve for multiple expansion toward the level of the S&P 500, especially as the market looks beyond the comparison with the 14-week quarter of 3Q10." Shares of Cisco Systems were at $22.20 in pre-market trading at the time of posting, up 0.68% from Friday's market close. Breaking news

• Beckman Coulter, Inc. BEC, a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of products that simplify, automate and innovate complex biomedical testing, and Danaher DHR, a diversified technology leader that designs, manufactures, and markets innovative products and services to professional, medical, industrial, and commercial customers, announced today that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Danaher will acquire all of Beckman Coulter's outstanding common stock for $83.50 per share in cash (without interest), representing an approximate 45% premium over the closing price of Beckman Coulter's common stock on December 9, 2010 before rumors of an acquisition entered the marketplace. To read the full news, click here.
• Greensboro, North Carolina-based cigarette manufacturer Lorillard, Inc. LO announced on Monday morning that it beat consensus Wall Street estimates. To read the full news, click here.
• Pawtucket, Rhode Island-based Hasbro, Inc. HAS released financial results on Monday morning that beat Wall Street earnings estimates, while failing to meet revenue expectations. To read the full news, click here.
• AOL AOL will purchase the Huffington Post this quarter or next for $315 million. To read the full news, click here.

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