U.S. stock futures were flat to slightly lower in early trading on Wednesday after all three major indexes posted their biggest drops in over a month yesterday on concerns over an interest rate hike ahead of next week's Fed meeting.
The economic calendar today is light again, with only wholesale trade figures for July due at 10:00am ET. Economists are expecting a 0.5% increase following a 0.3% rise in June.
Elsewhere, European markets were mixed at the time of writing, with gains kept in check by Scottish worries and as France said it will heavily overshoot its already delayed EU budget deficit target for next year, as it now only aims to reach the required level of 3% national output in 2017. Hong Kong shares tumbled today amid declines on Wall Street overnight and on worries about China's economy.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Baghdad today to start laying the groundwork for President Obama's vision to defeat the Islamic State group controlling parts of Iraq and Syria.
In corporate activity, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) shed premarket after the iPhone maker unveiled its new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, as well as an Apple Watch plus a mobile payments system. Shares rose as high as 3.4% yesterday after the news, but ultimately ended the session 0.4% lower. The company is planning to charge banks transaction fees every time customers use their iPhones to make purchases with its new mobile payment service.
Speaking of this, Visa (NYSE:V) has announced it will debut a new payment service in conjunction with Apple's launch of Apple Pay, which will be available on all devices Apple unveiled on Tuesday. The service will allow Visa cards to be added to the new Apple system through the use of a digital account number.
Dollar General (NYSE:DG) is now preparing to take its $9.1 billion offer for Family Dollar (NYSE:FDO) hostile, taking it directly to shareholders after being rejected for the second time.
Yahoo (NASDAQ:YHOO) will also be one to watch today, with its shares already up 1% premarket on news that Alibaba, within just two days of its launch, has collected enough orders for its IPO to cover the entire deal. At the top end of expectations, the company would raise $21.1 billion as the largest-ever tech IPO.
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) shares edged up on reports the company is in advanced talks to buy the maker of the popular video game Minecraft, also known as Mojang of Sweden.
In earnings news, retailers were dominating the few reports out on Wednesday, with Land's End (NASDAQ:LE) shares rising almost 6% premarket after posting better-than-expected sales and profit in its fiscal second quarter. The company was spun off from Sears Holdings in April.
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (NYSE:KKR) fell more than 5% premarket after the company's second quarter adjusted profit missed estimates by 3 cents per share.
Manchester United (NYSE:MANU) shares edged down ahead of the opening bell after the company swung to a fiscal fourth quarter loss as expenses climbed, despite revenue increasing on growth in commercial and broadcast sales.
After the closing bell today, Men's Wearhouse (NYSE:MW), Five Below (NASDAQ:FIVE), Restoration Hardware (NYSE:RH) and Wet Seal (NASDAQ:WTSL) are all due to report quarterly results.
Home Depot (NYSE:HD) was feeling the heat Wednesday as five states have launched a probe into the retailer's data breach, while two senators have also asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate. It is also facing its first lawsuit from a customer over the cyberattack.
In commodities, gold futures for December rose $2 to $1,250 an ounce while October crude shed 8 cents to $92.68 a barrel. Reported by Proactive Investors 6 hours ago.
The economic calendar today is light again, with only wholesale trade figures for July due at 10:00am ET. Economists are expecting a 0.5% increase following a 0.3% rise in June.
Elsewhere, European markets were mixed at the time of writing, with gains kept in check by Scottish worries and as France said it will heavily overshoot its already delayed EU budget deficit target for next year, as it now only aims to reach the required level of 3% national output in 2017. Hong Kong shares tumbled today amid declines on Wall Street overnight and on worries about China's economy.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Baghdad today to start laying the groundwork for President Obama's vision to defeat the Islamic State group controlling parts of Iraq and Syria.
In corporate activity, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) shed premarket after the iPhone maker unveiled its new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, as well as an Apple Watch plus a mobile payments system. Shares rose as high as 3.4% yesterday after the news, but ultimately ended the session 0.4% lower. The company is planning to charge banks transaction fees every time customers use their iPhones to make purchases with its new mobile payment service.
Speaking of this, Visa (NYSE:V) has announced it will debut a new payment service in conjunction with Apple's launch of Apple Pay, which will be available on all devices Apple unveiled on Tuesday. The service will allow Visa cards to be added to the new Apple system through the use of a digital account number.
Dollar General (NYSE:DG) is now preparing to take its $9.1 billion offer for Family Dollar (NYSE:FDO) hostile, taking it directly to shareholders after being rejected for the second time.
Yahoo (NASDAQ:YHOO) will also be one to watch today, with its shares already up 1% premarket on news that Alibaba, within just two days of its launch, has collected enough orders for its IPO to cover the entire deal. At the top end of expectations, the company would raise $21.1 billion as the largest-ever tech IPO.
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) shares edged up on reports the company is in advanced talks to buy the maker of the popular video game Minecraft, also known as Mojang of Sweden.
In earnings news, retailers were dominating the few reports out on Wednesday, with Land's End (NASDAQ:LE) shares rising almost 6% premarket after posting better-than-expected sales and profit in its fiscal second quarter. The company was spun off from Sears Holdings in April.
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (NYSE:KKR) fell more than 5% premarket after the company's second quarter adjusted profit missed estimates by 3 cents per share.
Manchester United (NYSE:MANU) shares edged down ahead of the opening bell after the company swung to a fiscal fourth quarter loss as expenses climbed, despite revenue increasing on growth in commercial and broadcast sales.
After the closing bell today, Men's Wearhouse (NYSE:MW), Five Below (NASDAQ:FIVE), Restoration Hardware (NYSE:RH) and Wet Seal (NASDAQ:WTSL) are all due to report quarterly results.
Home Depot (NYSE:HD) was feeling the heat Wednesday as five states have launched a probe into the retailer's data breach, while two senators have also asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate. It is also facing its first lawsuit from a customer over the cyberattack.
In commodities, gold futures for December rose $2 to $1,250 an ounce while October crude shed 8 cents to $92.68 a barrel. Reported by Proactive Investors 6 hours ago.