Stock index futures rose on Monday after a steep market decline last week as plans emerged to ease Europe's debt crisis, potentially offsetting geopolitical concerns after the death of North Korea's leader.
Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Monday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.43 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.26 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.38 percent at 4:45 a.m. EST.
The euro and European stock markets were mostly stable on Monday as fears of rating agency downgrades over the euro zone debt crisis lingered, while news of the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il fed fears of regional instability in Asia.
European stocks and the euro were under pressure on Monday in the wake of a fresh rating agency warning on the euro zone debt crisis, while news of the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il sparked fears of regional instability in Asia.
With two weeks left in the trading year, the euro zone debt crisis will remain the primary impediment to pushing the S&P 500 index into positive territory for 2011.
World stocks were mixed and the euro was flat on Friday as worries about downgrades of weaker euro zone countries curbed risk appetite, pushing aside an improved outlook on the U.S. economy.
Stocks were little changed in volatile trading on Friday as a warning by Fitch it may cut ratings on some European nations offset gains in growth-related shares.
Stocks extended losses on Friday, with the Dow industrials and the S&P 500 falling into negative territory after Fitch threatened to cut the ratings of several euro zone nations, reigniting worries about the region.
Stocks rose on Friday, with growth-related shares leading the way as investors focused on a brighter U.S. economic outlook.
Stocks rose on Friday with growth-related shares leading the way as investors focused on a brighter U.S. economic outlook.
Wall Street stocks were set to open higher on Friday as investors were more attracted to risk assets, with the euro higher and key euro zone bond yields down.
Stock index futures rose on Friday in thin volume as key euro zone bond yields eased ahead of the release of U.S. inflation data.
Stock index futures pointed to a higher open for equities on Wall Street on Friday, with futures for the S&P 500, for the Dow Jones and for the Nasdaq 100 rising 0.3 to 0.6 percent.
Diamond Foods Inc said the Securities and Exchange Commission has launched a probe into its accounting of payments to walnut growers, raising concerns of further delays to its deal to acquire Procter & Gamble's Pringles business.
Standard & Poor's cut the credit ratings of 10 Spanish banks on Thursday and said they remained on watch for a possible further cut subject to a review of Spain's sovereign rating.
Signs of strength in the labor market and manufacturing sector, as well as higher quarterly profit from FedEx, pushed U.S. stocks slightly higher on Thursday, but the mood was fragile as investors kept their eyes on Europe's festering debt crisis.
Wall Street stocks were set to rise at the open on Thursday as stronger labor market and manufacturing data lifted sentiment after three days of losses, while higher quarterly profit from FedEx also boosted equity futures.
Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.3 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.5 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.5 percent at 0906 GMT.
Stocks fell for a third day and hit their lowest level in two weeks on Wednesday as widespread risk aversion sank commodity prices, sent the euro to an 11-month low against the dollar and drove Italy's borrowing costs to a euro-era high.
Stocks fell for a third day and hit their lowest level in two weeks on Wednesday as widespread risk aversion sent commodity prices tumbling, drove the euro to its lowest in a year and forced Italy to pay a euro-era high to sell debt.
Stocks fell for a third day and hit their lowest level in two weeks on Wednesday as widespread risk aversion sank commodity prices, drove the euro to its lowest in a year, and pushed Italian bond yields to a record high.
Stocks declined Wednesday as a fall in commodity prices sparked a selloff in the energy and materials sectors and as a falling euro and high Italian bond yields kept Europe's debt crisis in focus.
U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday with traders focused on a sliding euro and rising Italian bond yields as market anxiety over Europe persisted.
Online gaming firm Nexon Co slipped on its trading debut on Wednesday following a $1.2 billion IPO, Japan's biggest this year, and may signal a bumpy ride for U.S.-based rival Zynga, which debuts on Nasdaq later this week.
Stock index futures fell in light Wednesday trading, pressured by a decline in the euro and by rising Italian bond yields as market anxiety over Europe persisted.
The euro hit an 11-month low against the dollar and stocks eased on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve warned Europe's sovereign debt crisis could hurt the U.S. economy but failed to signal fresh action to stimulate growth.
Asian shares drifted lower and the euro idled near an 11-month low on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve failed to take any new steps to stimulate growth and offset the chilling effects of Europe's still-unresolved sovereign debt crisis.
Stocks fell for a second straight day on Tuesday after the Federal Reserve gave no hints of new stimulus measures to offset the effects of the worsening European debt crisis.
Stocks rose on Tuesday as energy shares rallied on higher crude oil prices, but trading was volatile after German Chancellor Angela Merkel rejected any suggestion of raising the limit on Europe's bailout fund.
Stock index futures rose on Tuesday following an equities selloff the day before, but anxiety over Europe's debt crisis was seen keeping markets jittery ahead of the Federal Reserve's assessment of the U.S. economy.
