US stocks are seen starting higher on Thursday, with car makers in focus before the bell.
General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) added 2% to US$39.75, while Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) shares gained 0.91% before the New York bell to US$11.09 joining fellow big vehicle makers in Europe as tred fears eased.
A US official said yesterday, accordinbg to a German newspaper, that the country would be prepared to back off stiff tariffs on cars imported from the EU if the trading bloc eliminates duties on US cars.
Elsewhere, in pre-market deals, Qorvo Inc (NASDAQ:QRVO) shares surged 2.27% to US$79.20 as the American chipmaker was upgraded by KeyBank to 'overweight' from 'sector weight'.
Also in New York pre-market deals, Praxair Inc (NYSE:PX) shares added 2.11% in before-the-bell deals to US$160.50 as the company and Linde AG took a major step toward overcoming hurdles that was blocking their planned US$45bn merger.
They have agreed to sell a raft of industrial-gas plants in Europe to Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corp.
Last but not least, Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) is forming a US$4.75bn joint venture with industrial partner - the Brazilian group Embraer - in a move that is said to expand the U.S. planemaker’s manufacturing base abroad.
Boeing shares in London are down 0.59% to US$334.22.