US stocks are poised to continue in positive territory on Thursday and not for the first time in recent days, tech behemoth Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) is in the frame.
Shares are up 3.34% to US$160.28 in pre-market in New York as chief Mark Zuckerberg refuses to step down over the data scandal and says he ls the best man to lead the company.
Yesterday, it emerged that it was thought that far more people's data was improperly shared with UK-based Cambridge Analytica - up to 87mln rather than the 50mln previously thought.
JUST IN: Facebook says it now believes the Facebook information of up to 87,000,000 people, mostly in US, "may have been improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica" - @NBCNewsBusiness
— NBC News (@NBCNews) 4 April 2018
It’s been revealed that Facebook is indeed scanning and reading your private messages. When confronted about this embarrassing revelation CEO Mark Zuckerberg wished that everyone would respect his privacy during this trying time.
— Chad Prather (@WatchChad) 5 April 2018
Elsewhere, Monsanto Co (NYSE:MON) saw shares drop 1.61% to US$114.87 in before the bell deals ahead of the agricultural and agrochemical giant reporting quarterly earnings.
Analysts expect it to post earnings of US$3.31 per share on revenues of US$5.34bn before the opening bell.
Conn's Inc (NASDAQ:CONN), the furniture and electronics chain shed over 15% after hours to US$30.30.
Total retail revenues were US$334.5mln for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 compared to US$356.2mln for the same time last year - a decrease of US$21.7 mln.
Analysts had expected revenue of US$428.69mln.
Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:OLLI) saw shares shed nearly 5% before the bell to US$57.45.
The retail group posted stronger-than-expected results for its fourth quarter, but issued weak sales forecast for the full year.
On Wall Street, Dow futures are up 64 points at 24,329, the S&P 500 futures are ahead by almost 12 and Nasdaq futures are up 48 points at 6,630.
Top gaining stocks are Sonoma Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:SNOA), up almost 27% in pre-market at US$3.63, after the company said the US FDA has approved its antimicrobial post-therapy gel.
Meanwhile, Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:CNAT) shed over 29% to US$6.01 after liver drug study data.