Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average were up 8 points to 18,025, while those for the S&P 500 index about flat at 2,106.70. Meanwhile, futures for the Nasdaq-100 Index were trading flat to a whisker higher at 4,490.75.
U.S. stocks advanced yesterday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.3 percent to 18000.40 and the S&P 500 advanced 1.2 percent to 2105.20, the largest one-day gain for both indexes since May 8.
The World Bank joined the International Monetary Fund in urging the U.S. Federal Reserve to hold off on a rate hike until next year to avoid worsening exchange rate volatility and crimping global growth.
DATA:
The number of people who applied for U.S. unemployment benefits rose slightly in the first week of June but remained near a 15-year low amid a sharp upsurge in hiring over the past few years. Initial jobless claims edged up by 2,000 to 279,000 in the seven days from May 31 to June 6, the government said.
Sales at U.S. retailers rose sharply in May and increased for the third straight month, suggesting that warmer weather induced consumers to spending more in the spring after a winter lull. Retail sales climbed a seasonally adjusted 1.2 percent last month, the Commerce Department said. Auto dealers and gasoline stations posted the strongest sales, but most major retail segments saw healthy gains.
The prices the U.S. paid for imported goods surged a seasonally adjusted 1.3 percent in May, entirely because of a sharp increase in fuel costs. It was the first increase in 11 months and the largest in more than three years.
MOVERS:
Nike (NYSE:NKE) rose 0.4 percent ahead of the bell after news late yesterday that the sportswear maker will replace rival Adidas to become official on-court uniform and apparel provider of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) rose 1.2 percent, a day after an advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended approval of its cholesterol-lowering drug.
Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) fluctuated in premarket trades after the European Commission launched an antitrust investigation into certain practices in Amazon’s e-books business.
Box (NYSE:BOX) jumped 12 percent after the cloud-storage company reported better-than-expected quarterly results and provided an upbeat outlook.
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (NYSE:KKD) rose 6.7 percent after the food company posted a stronger-than-expected adjusted profit of 24 cents a share late yesterday.
OTHER MARKETS:
European stocks rose amid continued optimism about an eventual Greek bailout deal. Germany’s DAX rose 1 percent and France’s CAC 40 gained 0.9 percent. Greece’s Athex Composite Index surged 7 percent.
Asia closed mostly higher, with South Korean stocks getting a boost from a central-bank interest rate cut.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note inched down to 2.470 percent from 2.478 percent yesterday. Yields fall as prices rise.
COMMODITIES:
Gold prices fell today, snapping three days of gains. Spot gold was down 0.6 percent at $1,179.60 an ounce, while U.S. gold futures for August delivery were down $7.10 an ounce at $1,179.50.
Oil prices fell today as the World Bank cut its global economic growth forecast. Brent Crude Oil for July fell 66 cents to $65.04 a barrel by 8:02 a.m. U.S. crude was down 65 cents at $60.78 a barrel.