LONDON -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEX: ^DJI) looks set to open flat this morning following yesterday's 32-point recovery. Speculation that China could introduce further measures to stimulate its economy, alongside further tension ahead of tomorrow's eurozone political summit, were among the main talking points ahead of the bell.
On the domestic front, reports concerning manufacturing activity and home sales may dictate the market's direction. Estimates compiled by Bloomberg indicate durable goods orders in May could have advanced by 0.5% -- a slight recovery following the 6.6% decline reported during the first four months of the year. Meanwhile, the number of Americans agreeing to buy previously owned homes may have increased 1.5% last month.
Among individual stocks, General Mills (NYSE: GIS) and Monsanto may be active during the session. Later today, General Mills is expected to report full-year earnings of $2.54 per share, while third-quarter numbers from Monsanto might show earnings of $1.58 per share.
In Europe, shares moved a fraction higher as worries ahead of this week's EU political summit continued to emerge. Factors influencing trading included German Chancellor Angele Merkel's unhappiness with the summit's "Eurobond" proposals and Italian six-month bonds being auctioned at yields of 2.96% versus 2.10% just one month ago.
Among those European shares whose ADRs may see active trading today, Nokia rebounded 2% as more contrarians bought in following Monday's 11% collapse, while Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE: BUD) gained 2% as investors digested news this week about the brewer's discussions to buy a Mexican rival for $20 billion.
In the U.K., the FTSE 100 (INDEX: ^FTSE) climbed 0.3% higher this morning. Shire Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: SHPGY) headed the leaderboard as bottom-fishers bought in following Monday's 10% slump. But mining groups Glencore International and Xtrata dived lower following doubts about the pair's planned merger.
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