Wall Street is set to open higher today as investors digested a lower-than-expected read on private payrolls.
Futures for the S&P 500 were last up 0.6 percent to 2,096.25, while those for the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced by 0.4 percent to 17,515. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 tacked on 0.7 percent to 4,582.50.
U.S. private-sector franchise jobs increased by 33,300 during the month of July, according to the ADP National Franchise Report. The report came in at 185,000, below expectations for 215,000 private-sector payrolls.
Meanwhile, the U.S. trade deficit rose 7.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted $43.8 billion in June, largely reflecting higher imports such as autos and drugs from the European Union.
MOVERS:
First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) jumped 10 percent after the biggest U.S. maker of solar panels reported sales that exceeded projections.
Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI) jumped 6.8 percent to $25.67 after the videogame maker's results beat expectations and it raised its 2015 forecast.
Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) slid 7.6 percent after after the media company lowered profit guidance for its cable networks unit and reported quarterly revenue slightly below expectations.
Priceline Group (NASDAQ:PCLN) rose more than 9.1 percent in premarket trading after the online travel broker posted better-than-anticipated quarterly profit.
Lumber Liquidators Holdings (NYSE:LL) dived 19 percent premarket after the flooring retailer posted a surprise loss.
Time Warner (NYSE:TWX) fell as much as 1.9 percent ahead of the bell even as its profit easily topped Wall Street expectations in the second quarter.
COMMODITIES:
U.S. gold for delivery in December slipped 0.5 percent to $1,085.50 an ounce.
U.S. crude for September delivery rose 36 cents to $46.10 a barrel.
OTHER MARKETS:
Asian stocks mostly rose after a gauge of China’s service sector reached an 11-month high, but the positive sentiment didn’t carry over to Chinese equities.
European stocks advanced Wednesday, with the Stoxx Europe 600 gaining 1.2 percent. Greek shares, however, continued to fall after the country’s stock market opened for the first time in more than five weeks on Monday.