U.S. futures mixed, focus on debt vote; Dow Jones up 0.01%

Investing.com - U.S. stock futures pointed to a mixed open on Wednesday, after strong earnings reports released on Tuesday evening, while investors eyed an upcoming vote on the U.S. debt ceiling.

Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.01% gain, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.07% loss, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.14% rise.

Markets were eyeing U.S. budget negotiations after Republican leaders in the House of Representatives said they aim to pass on Wednesday a nearly four-month extension of the U.S. debt limit allowing the government to borrow enough to meet its obligations during that period.

After the closing bell on Tuesday, Google reported that revenue from its core Internet business outpaced many analysts' expectations during the holiday quarter, while advertising rates fell less than in previous periods. Google shares were up 4.94% in pre-market trade.

Also among earnings, IBM gave a better than expected 2013 outlook after a solid fourth quarter that analysts say has more to do with Big Blue's smooth execution than a vibrant tech spending environment. The news sent shares in the tech sevices company surging 4.05% in early trading.

WellPoint inched up 0.02% in after-hour trade, after the second-biggest U.S. health insurer reported fourth-quarter profit that beat analysts' estimates as medical costs were lower than anticipated. However, the company gave a 2013 earnings forecast that was less than analysts expected.

Elsewhere, financial stocks were expected to be active, after JPMorgan Chief Executive Jamie Dimon apologized to shareholders for the USD6 billion loss caused by the so-called "whale" trade, calling it a "terrible mistake," but said the bank has moved on and is still highly profitable.

Other stocks in focus included McDonald's and United Technologies, due to report earnings before the start of U.S. trade, as well as Apple after the closing bell.

Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were mixed. The EURO STOXX 50 slipped 0.12%, France’s CAC 40 fell 0.27%, Germany's DAX rose 0.24%, while Britain's FTSE 100 added 0.11%.

During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index edged down 0.1%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index tumbled 2.08%.

Later in the day, the U.S. was to release government data on crude oil stockpiles, while the World Economic Forum was to continue for a second day in Davos, Switzerland.