US Stock Futures Signal Higher Open Ahead Of ISM Manufacturing PMI

The U.S. stock index futures point to a higher open Monday ahead of the Institute of Supply Management’s (ISM) Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data.

The futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were up 0.26 percent, the futures on the Standard & Poor's 500 index were up 0.23 percent and those on the Nasdaq 100 index were up 0.17 percent.

Investors are likely to focus on the ISM’s Manufacturing PMI, to be reported Monday. The ISM manufacturing index, which rates the relative level of business conditions including employment, production, new orders, prices, supplier deliveries and inventories, is expected to marginally rise to 49.7 in September, up from 49.6 in August. But a level below 50 represents contraction in the industry.

On Friday, the U.S. markets fell as investor confidence was weighed down by the concerns about the debt burden faced by the euro zone. Meanwhile, the domestic personal spending, as detailed by the Commerce Department's Personal Income and Outlays report announced Friday, rose to 0.5 percent in August, up from 0.4 percent in July. Also the personal income, as reported by the Commerce Department Friday, rose 0.1 percent in August, down from 0.3 percent in July.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.36 percent, the S&P 500 Index was down 0.45 percent and the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 0.65 percent.

European stocks rose Monday as the market sentiment turned positive with expectations that Spain would soon seek help to reduce its increasing debt burden. London's FTSE 100 was up 9.47 points, Germany's DAX 30 index rose 26.56 points and France's CAC 40 gained 14.72 points.

Stock markets in China, Hong Kong and South Korea were closed Monday for holiday. Japan's Nikkei Stock Average fell as investor confidence was weighed down by the rising concerns about the worsening global economic conditions following the disappointing data which showed the weakening Japanese business conditions and Chinese manufacturing activity.

According to data released by the Bank of Japan Monday, the Tankan large manufacturing index dropped to minus 3 in the quarter ending September down from minus 1 in the earlier three months.

Meanwhile, China's manufacturing activity in September continued to remain in the phase of contraction, increasing the concerns over a slowdown in the economic growth of the country. Data released by the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing Monday showed that the Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 49.8 in September up from 49.2 in August.