A Peek Into The Market Before The Trading Starts

Pre-open movers US stock futures are slightly lower this morning, as investors are awaiting the data on jobless claims and consumer prices. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 2 points to 12,250, while S&P 500 futures dropped 0.90 point to 1,332. Nasdaq 100 futures fell 1.50 points to 2,391. A Peek Into Global Markets European markets were mixed today. While STOXX Europe 600 Index has gained 0.07%, London's FTSE 100 Index moved down 0.09%. Asian markets ended higher, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average gaining 0.26%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 moving up 0.15% and China's Shanghai Composite gaining 0.11%. Broker Recommendation Jefferies downgraded Genzyme GENZ from Buy to Hold in a research report published today. In the report, Jefferies states, "Upon announcement of the definite agreement whereby SNY is to acquire GENZ for $74/sh in cash + CVRs worth up to $14/sh, we are downgrading GENZ shares to Hold from Buy." Shares of Genzyme closed Thursday at $75.10, up 1.07% from Wednesday's market close. Breaking news

• The J. M. Smucker Company SJM today announced results for the third quarter ended January 31, 2011, of its 2011 fiscal year. Non-GAAP income per diluted share was $1.27 and $1.17 for the third quarters of 2011 and 2010, an increase of 9 percent, and $3.69 and $3.30 for the first nine months of 2011 and 2010, an increase of 12 percent, respectively. To read the full news, click here.
• Lear Corporation LEA today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a $400 million share repurchase program, initiated a $0.25 per share quarterly cash dividend and declared a two-for-one stock split of Lear's common stock, par value $0.01 per share. To read the full news, click here.
• Duke Energy DUK reports its Q4 adjusted EPS at $0.21, versus the consensus of $0.23. To read the full news, click here.
• Alere Inc ALR reports its Q4 adjusted EPS at $0.71, beating the consensus of $0.67. To read the full news, click here.

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