US : Futures up as oil prices rise; Fed’s Fischer in focus
U.S. stock index futures inched up on Monday, supported by higher oil prices and the lingering effects of a rally sparked by Donald Trump’s surprise victory in the U.S. election.
* Oil prices touched a near three-week high of $ 47.75 per barrel as the dollar fell for the first time in ten days, and amid hopes of OPEC reaching an agreement to cut output.
* The three major U.S. indexes are near record highs after the rally since the U.S. election as investors bet President-elect Trump’s policies could be market friendly.
* Banks have led the charge on hopes that the Federal Reserve would raise interest rates in December, when it meets for the last time this year.
* Fed Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer is expected to offer more clues on the central bank’s plans in his speech at 8:00 a.m. ET (1300 GMT) in New York.
* Traders have priced in an 85 percent chance of a rate hike next month, according to Thomson Reuters data.
* The Nasdaq hit a record intraday high on Friday. But all three indexes ended lower, with healthcare stocks leading the declines, as investors cashed in on the post-election rally and waited for clarity on the next administration’s policies.
* LifeLock (LOCK.N) and Headwaters (HW.N) were among the top gainer in premarket trading on Monday after the two companies agreed to be acquired.
* LifeLock jumped 14.2 percent to $ 23.70 after Symantec (SYMC.O) said it would buy the identity theft protection services company for $ 2.3 billion.
* Headwaters rose 18.2 percent to $ 23.75 after Australia’s Boral Ltd (BLD.AX) said it would buy the U.S. construction and building products maker for $ 1.8 billion.
* Facebook (FB.O) rose 1.26 percent to $ 118.50 after announcing a $ 6 billion share repurchase program.
Futures snapshot at 7:12 a.m. ET:
* Dow e-minis 1YMc1 were up 12 points, or 0.06 percent, with 22,636 contracts changing hands.
* S&P 500 e-minis ESc1 were up 4.5 points, or 0.21 percent, with 99,777 contracts traded.
* Nasdaq 100 e-minis NQc1 were up 11.75 points, or 0.24 percent, on volume of 17,253 contracts.
