Investing.com - U.S. stock futures pointed to a higher open on Monday, as investors awaited a speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke in Jackson Hole, Wyoming later in the week, for indications on whether the U.S. central bank will soon announce fresh easing measures.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.09% rise, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.26% increase, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.57% gain.
Investors were awaiting more information from the Fed, after the minutes of its August meeting indicated that many policymakers may be leaning towards additional easing measures.
Meanwhile, investors remained cautious as renewed concerns over the ongoing debt crisis in the euro zone sapped risk appetite.
Earlier Monday, data showed that German business sentiment declined for a fourth month in August, underlining concerns over the impact of the debt crisis on the region’s largest economy.
Pharmaceuticals were expected to be active, as Eli Lilly's heart drug Effient failed to beat the older product Plavix in a head-to-head clinical study, dealing a blow to hopes for its expanded use in treating less critically sick heart patients who are managed solely with medicines.
Separately, Merck & Co said on Sunday it plans to file regulatory applications for a new type of blood clot preventer next year, and will also file with regulators for approval of another cardiovascular drug in 2013.
Auto stocks were also likely to be in focus, as Ford, Mazda and their Chinese partner Chongqing Changan Automotive were said to have received approval from China's central government to split their three-way, manufacturing and sales joint venture into two.
In addition, car rental company Hertz Global Holdings said it intends to buy rival Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group for about USD2.3 billion, ending more than two years of a takeover battle.
In the media sector, Sirius XM Radio was slated to move as investors were reportedly buying up the stock ahead of a potential share buyback.
On Sunday, media mogul Barry Diller's IAC said that its Ask.com unit acquired information website About.com from the New York Times Company for USD300 million in cash.
Other stocks in focus included jeweler Tiffany & Co, due to report second-quarter results before the market open.
The company was also slated to update its full-year forecast, which was expected to reflect how Tiffany expects sales to trend as it heads toward the holiday period.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were higher. The EURO STOXX 50 rose 0.24%, France’s CAC 40 added 0.19%, Germany's DAX advanced 0.24%, while Britain's FTSE 100 was closed for a bank holiday weekend.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped 0.41%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index added 0.16%.
Investors were also anticipating a speech by senior European Central Bank policymaker Joerg Asmussen later in the day.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.09% rise, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.26% increase, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.57% gain.
Investors were awaiting more information from the Fed, after the minutes of its August meeting indicated that many policymakers may be leaning towards additional easing measures.
Meanwhile, investors remained cautious as renewed concerns over the ongoing debt crisis in the euro zone sapped risk appetite.
Earlier Monday, data showed that German business sentiment declined for a fourth month in August, underlining concerns over the impact of the debt crisis on the region’s largest economy.
Pharmaceuticals were expected to be active, as Eli Lilly's heart drug Effient failed to beat the older product Plavix in a head-to-head clinical study, dealing a blow to hopes for its expanded use in treating less critically sick heart patients who are managed solely with medicines.
Separately, Merck & Co said on Sunday it plans to file regulatory applications for a new type of blood clot preventer next year, and will also file with regulators for approval of another cardiovascular drug in 2013.
Auto stocks were also likely to be in focus, as Ford, Mazda and their Chinese partner Chongqing Changan Automotive were said to have received approval from China's central government to split their three-way, manufacturing and sales joint venture into two.
In addition, car rental company Hertz Global Holdings said it intends to buy rival Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group for about USD2.3 billion, ending more than two years of a takeover battle.
In the media sector, Sirius XM Radio was slated to move as investors were reportedly buying up the stock ahead of a potential share buyback.
On Sunday, media mogul Barry Diller's IAC said that its Ask.com unit acquired information website About.com from the New York Times Company for USD300 million in cash.
Other stocks in focus included jeweler Tiffany & Co, due to report second-quarter results before the market open.
The company was also slated to update its full-year forecast, which was expected to reflect how Tiffany expects sales to trend as it heads toward the holiday period.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were higher. The EURO STOXX 50 rose 0.24%, France’s CAC 40 added 0.19%, Germany's DAX advanced 0.24%, while Britain's FTSE 100 was closed for a bank holiday weekend.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped 0.41%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index added 0.16%.
Investors were also anticipating a speech by senior European Central Bank policymaker Joerg Asmussen later in the day.