LONDON -- Stock index futures at 7 a.m. EDT indicate that the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI -0.11%) may open down by a nominal five points this morning, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.02%) looks set to stall right out of the gate, moving less than a point as investors wait for this Friday's jobs report before committing to new positions.
European stock markets rose this morning as yesterday's weaker U.S. data fueled expectations that the Federal Reserve's monetary-stimulus program will continue at its present rate for some time to come. In Europe, the latest inflation figures showed that prices have fallen across the eurozone. Factory gate prices -- i.e., raw material costs -- were down by 0.6% in April, while energy prices fell by 1.6% in April, leaving them 2% lower than in April 2012. There was also good news in Spain, where the country's Labor Ministry said unemployment had fallen by 98,265 in May -- almost twice the normal seasonal fall of about 55,000.
In the U.S. today, the latest trade deficit figures are expected to show that the deficit widened from $38.8 billion to $41.5 billion in April, casting some doubt on how well U.S. exports are recovering. No other major data is due, and corporate earnings are restricted as well, which could leave markets struggling to find direction today. However, if the Dow Jones closes up today, it would be the 21st consecutive Tuesday that the benchmark index has delivered a gain, according to CNN.
Among the companies that released earnings before the opening bell today, Dollar General (DG 0.30%) reported first-quarter earnings of $0.67 per share on revenue of $4.24 billion, falling short of EPS estimates of $0.71 and matching sales forecasts. The company also revised its full-year EPS forecast from a range of $3.15 to $3.30 down to a range of $3.15 to $3.22. The company's stock is down almost 5% in premarket trading, though it has gained 25% year to date.
Companies due to report after the bell include Bob Evans Farms, Analogic, and Mattress Firm Holding, which is expected to report first-quarter earnings of $0.36 on sales of $274.4 million.
General Motors stock is also likely to be in demand when markets open after the company announced last night that it will replace H.J. Heinz in the S&P 500 following Heinz's recent sale to Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, which is expected to close on Friday. General Motors stock is 2.7% higher in premarket trading. (NASDAQ: ALOG)
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