U.S. stock index futures dipped on Monday as a week packed with data and central bank meetings gets under way, with the S&P 500 just 0.2 percent below its record close set a week ago.
Investors will focus on Wednesday’s statement from the Federal Reserve for clarity on when the Fed will begin to wind down its stimulus. The European Central Bank and the Bank of England will also meet this week.
Data on the housing and industrial sectors are scheduled in the first half of the week, followed by gross domestic product for the second quarter on Wednesday and the key payrolls report on Friday. The National Association of Realtors issues pending home sales for June at 10 a.m. on Monday.
On the earnings front, hotel, energy and financial services conglomerate Loews Corp (L.N) posted a jump in second-quarter profit as revenue from its insurance arm, CNA Financial (CNA.N), increased nearly 13 percent. Loews shares added 2 percent in light premarket trading.
“Earnings have been good so far, but they have come in low-quality,” said Kim Forrest, senior equity research analyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group in Pittsburgh. “We haven’t really seen margin expansion or a lot of revenue growth and that can keep a lid on the markets in the short term.”
Halfway through earnings season, 67.6 percent of S&P 500 companies have beaten analysts’ expectations – in line with the 67 percent average beat in the last four quarters. About 56 percent of the companies have beaten revenue expectations, more than the 48 percent of revenue beats in the past four earnings seasons but below the historical average.
Wynn Resorts (WYNN.O) shares fell 1.5 percent in light premarket trading after the casino developer and operator missed Wall Street estimates.
S&P 500 futures fell 3.9 points and were below fair value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures fell 27 points, and Nasdaq 100 futures lost 5.5 points.
Merger activity could give equities some support as big deals show that large investors see value in the market.
On Monday, U.S. drug maker Perrigo (PRGO.N) agreed to buy Elan (ELN.I) for $8.6 billion. U.S.-traded Elan shares (ELN.N) jumped 7.4 percent to $16.04 in premarket trading.
Shares in advertising groups jumped after Publicis PUB.PA and Omnicom (OMC.N) said they would merge, as investors bet the deal would create an opening for rivals to poach defecting clients and potentially trigger more deals. Omnicon shares gained 6.7 percent in premarket trading.
“Deals are getting done because there’s still cheap money,” said Fort Pitt’s Forrest. “It makes you wonder if the threat of higher interest rates is making these deals get done now.”
Hudson’s Bay Co (HBC.TO), operator of department store chains Lord & Taylor in the United States and The Bay in Canada, said it would buy luxury retailer Saks Inc (SKS.N) for $16 per share. Saks shares rose 3.8 percent to $15.89 in premarket trading.
REUTERS
About the Author
