U.S. Futures Down Ahead Of Economic Data

U.S. stock futures are lower this morning. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 26 points to 12,737.00 and S&P 500 index futures fell 3 points to 1,347.70. Nasdaq 100 futures declined 6 points to 2,611.25.
 
U.S. stocks closed mostly lower on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 0.10% to 12,824.39, the S&P 500 index declining 0.17% to 1,355.69 and the Nasdaq 100 index gaining 0.02% to 2,930.45.
 
Data on weekly jobless claims will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET. The Philadelphia Fed factory index for June, and May existing-home sales and leading economic indicators will be released at 10 a.m. ET.
 
Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) is estimated to post a Q1 loss at $0.03 per share on revenue of $6.43 billion. CarMax (NYSE: KMX) is expected to post its Q1 earnings at $0.53 per share on revenue of $2.81 billion.
 
American Software (NASDAQ: AMSWA) is estimated to post its Q4 EPS at $0.12 on revenue of $28.81 million. ConAgra Foods (NYSE: CAG) is projected to post its Q4 EPS at $0.50 on revenue of $3.38 billion.
 
Red Hat (NYSE: RHT) reported a 15% rise in its Q1 profit. However, the company reported downbeat billings for the period
 
Bed Bath & Beyond (NASDAQ: BBBY) issued a weak Q2 profit outlook.
 
European markets were lower today. The STOXX Europe 600 Index fell 0.30%, London's FTSE 100 Index dropped 0.50%, French CAC 40 index fell 0.42% and German DAX 30 index declined 0.38%.
 
Asian markets ended mostly lower, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average rising 0.82%, Chinese Shanghai Composite dropping 1.40% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dropping 1.03%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index declined 1.30% and India's Sensex gained 0.80%.
 
Crude oil for August delivery dropped $0.76 to $80.70 a barrel. However, gold for August delivery declined $15.50 to $1,600.10 an ounce.
 
The dollar index (DXY) gained 0.17% to 81.62, versus 81.567 in late trading Wednesday.

BY Monica Gerson