US stock futures are slightly lower this morning, as investors are awaiting ISM manufacturing data. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 14 points to 13,128.00 and S&P 500 index futures fell 0.60 points to 1,402.60. Nasdaq 100 futures dropped 1.25 points to 2,749.50.
A Peek Into Global Markets
European markets were mixed today. The STOXX Europe 600 Index dropped 0.13%, London's FTSE 100 Index moved up 0.37%, French CAC 40 index fell 0.26% and German DAX 30 index gained 0.11%.
Asian markets ended mostly higher, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average rising 0.26% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 moving down 0.08%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 0.16% and India's Sensex gained 0.50%.
Broker Recommendation
Analysts at JP Morgan upgraded Kohl's Corp (NYSE: KSS) from “underweight” to “neutral.” The target price for Kohl's has been raised from $42 to $55.
Kohl's shares closed at $50.03 on Friday.
Breaking News
- Acacia Research Corporation (NASDAQ: ACTG) announced today that its DRAM Memory Technologies LLC subsidiary has entered into a settlement agreement with SK Hynix Inc.
- QR Energy LP (NYSE: QRE) announced today that subject to the closing of its acquisition from Prize Petroleum, LLC announced on March 19, 2012, the Board of Directors of its general partner has approved an increase in the cash distribution attributable to the second quarter of 2012 to $0.4875 per unit for all outstanding units.
- Aeterna Zentaris Inc (NASDAQ: AEZS) today announced that the Phase 3 "X-PECT" (Xeloda® + Perifosine Evaluation in Colorectal cancer Treatment) clinical trial evaluating perifosine + capecitabine (Xeloda®) in patients with refractory advanced colorectal cancer did not meet the primary endpoint of improving overall survival versus capecitabine + placebo.
- The Hartford (NYSE: HIG) today announced it has entered into a purchase agreement with Allianz SE to repurchase certain securities.