U.S. Markets Up: Bernanke, Jobless Claims In Focus

U.S. stock futures were higher this morning, as investors waited on congressional testimony by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 15 points to 12,434.00 and S&P 500 index futures rose 3.20 points to 1,318.70. Nasdaq 100 futures gained 6.25 points to 2,556.25.
 
U.S. stocks closed higher on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average surging 2.37% to 12,414.79, the S&P 500 index rising 2.30% to 1,315.13 and the Nasdaq 100 index gaining 2.40% to 2,844.72.
 
Data on jobless claims will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is scheduled to testify before a congressional panel at 10 a.m. ET.
 
Isle of Capri Casinos Inc (NASDAQ: ISLE) is estimated to post its Q4 EPS at $0.31 on revenue of $272.39 million. The J. M. Smucker Company (NYSE: SJM) is projected to post its Q4 EPS at $0.99 on revenue of $1.35 billion.
 
Bio-Reference Laboratories Inc (NASDAQ: BRLI) is expected to post its Q3 EPS at $0.32 on revenue of $161.48 million. Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) is projected to post its Q2 EPS at $0.71 on revenue of $3.65 billion.
 
UTi Worldwide Inc (NASDAQ: UTIW) is estimated to post its Q1 EPS at $0.16 on revenue of $1.23 billion. Titan Machinery Inc (NASDAQ: TITN) is expected to post its Q1 earnings at $0.38 per share on revenue of $393.73 million. The Cooper Companies Inc (NYSE: COO) is projected to post its Q2 EPS at $1.20 on revenue of $349.94 million.
 
The Men's Wearhouse Inc (NYSE: MW) reported disappointing FQ1 results and issued a weak Q2 forecast.
 
Annie's Inc (NYSE: BNNY) reported upbeat fiscal fourth-quarter earnings.
 
European markets were higher today. The STOXX Europe 600 Index gained 0.53%, London's FTSE 100 Index moved up 0.79%, French CAC 40 index rose 0.56% and German DAX 30 index gained 0.56%.
 
Asian markets ended mostly higher, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average rising 1.24%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 moving up 1.27% and China's Shanghai Composite dropping 0.71%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.85% and India's Sensex surged 1.35%.
 
Nymex crude-oil futures dropped $0.14 to $84.88 a barrel in electronic trade, while gold futures declined $10.80 an ounce to trade at $1,622.
 
The dollar index (DXY) dropped 0.04% to trade at 82.17.

BY Monica Gerson