LONDON -- U.S. stocks are expected to open slightly up this morning, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average
The only domestic economic news due today is the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, which is expected to show a slight improvement on April. No major company results are expected, and following the rally of the last two days, some profit-taking is likely before the Memorial Day weekend.
Indeed, after two weeks during which CNN's Fear & Greed Index has registered "extreme fear," the respite of the last two days is likely to be temporary, as none of the underlying causes for concern -- a slowdown in China or the Eurozone -- have been resolved.
Over in Europe, consumer confidence surveys in France and Germany showed small increases, but with no other economic data due today, this had minimal impact on trading. In Germany, newspapers reported a number of large companies have been making specific preparations for a Greek euro exit.
Elsewhere, solvency problems continue to press down on Spain's banking sector, with shares in the country's fourth-largest bank, Bankia, suspended this morning. Bankia is due to present a restructuring plan later today. It has already been part-nationalized as part of a previous bailout attempt.
In London, the FTSE 100
In company news, Quest Software
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