Stock futures suggest strong opening |
|
|
|
Published
:
Thu, 08 Mar 2007 13:00
|
NEW YORK (AP) - U.S. stocks futures suggested a strong opening for Wall Street Thursday as investors again looked to Asia to help set the tone for trading.Futures moved higher despite an expectation for uneven February sales reports from U.S. retailers, whose results were likely battered by mid-month snowstorms across much of the country.Dow Jones industrials futures rose 75 points, or 0.68 percent, while Standard & Poor's 500 index futures advanced 9.90 points, or 0.80 percent. Nasdaq 100 index futures rose 17 points, or 1.06 percent.U.S. stocks fell Wednesday but largely held onto sizable gains earned Tuesday when investors tried to shake off a weeklong selloff that saw only fleeting interruptions. The stability seen Wednesday could help inject shaken investors with a bit of confidence that perhaps U.S. markets are poised to head higher.Investors not only looked to Asian stocks, which closed higher Thursday, but also to comments from U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson who in a speech in Shanghai called on China to more rapidly adopt the type of financial practices seen on Wall Street.Last week, a nearly 9 percent drop in the Shanghai Composite Index helped touch off a worldwide spasm of selling that led major U.S. indexes to give back their gains for the year.Also Thursday, Europe stole some of Wall Street's attention with decisions due from the European Central Bank and the Bank of England on whether to raise interest rates. The major indexes in Europe moved higher Thursday morning.Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Print this Story
Signs point to stocks opening higher 