Wall Street is struggling for direction on Tuesday as traders weigh upbeat earnings report from Wal-Mart Stores and TJX and a host of mixed economic reports.
At 10:18 a.m. in New York, the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) is down less than 0.1% at 2,052. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI), similarly, is down less than 0.1% at 17,477. The Nasdaq Composite (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC), on the other hand, is up less than 0.1% at 4,985.
Consumer prices rose for the first time in three months, while industrial production dropped in October. The Labor Department said its Consumer Price Index increased 0.2% last month, reversing September's 0.2% drop. The Federal Reserve said industrial production fell 0.2% last month after an unrevised 0.2% drop in September.
Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE:WMT) gained 2.9% to $59.54 after the world's largest retailer posted stronger-than-expected fiscal third-quarter earnings and upped the low end of its annual guidance.
TJX (NYSE:TJX) jumped 4.2% to $68.25 after the owner of off-price chains TJ Maxx and Marshalls reported a 5.3% rise in quarterly sales, as more bargain-hungry shoppers visited its stores.
US PREVIEW
US shares are set to start on the front foot as traders put the terror and unease of the Paris attacks to one side.
Futures trading have the benchmark Dow Jones 67 points ahead, with the S&P500 around nine points higher and the tech heavy Nasdaq index 19 points to the good.
Yesterday, stocks on Wall Street rebounded, snapping a three-session losing run, paced by energy shares amid bets that any fallout from Friday’s terrorist assaults would have a limited economic impact.
The Dow closed an impressive 237 points higher at 17,488, while the Nasdaq added around 56 points to 4,984.
The S&P500 added around 40 points to stand at 2,053 at the close of trading.
Last night, Asian stocks rose their most in three weeks, with the Nikkei 225 adding 237 points, while the Hang Seng gained 253 to go to 22,264.
Ahead of the bell are more earnings from retailers, including Asda owner Walmart (NYSE: WMMVF), Home Depot (NYSE:HD), and Dick's Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS).
Shares in Urban OutFitter (NYSE:URBN) plunged over 11% after hours after its quarterlies disappointed.
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) is up 0.49% in pre-market after news it had expanded Launchpad - the platform for startup firms to sell products to the UK and work with "crowdfunding platforms and venture capitalists.