Futures in Green Ahead of EU Summit

Stock index futures are in green in trading today ahead of the crucial European Union summit on Sunday. European leaders are expected to unveil a comprehensive plan at the summit in Brussels to stabilize the euro zone.

Ahead of the crucial summit, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are trading 24 points higher at 11,496, the S&P 500 futures are trading 3 points higher at 1,212.90, and the Nasdaq 100 futures are trading 8.25 points higher at 2,309.25.

On Thursday, stocks ended on a mixed note in a choppy trading session as investors remained cautious ahead of the EU summit. There were reports on Thursday that the summit could be postponed due to disagreements between France and Germany, the two largest euro zone economies, over the bailout fund. However, a renewed pledge from the two countries to stabilize the euro zone calmed investors.

With all eyes on the euro zone, investors are expected to remain cautious in trading today as well.

On the corporate front, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) shares are expected to remain in focus in trading today after the software maker reported its first-quarter financial results. Microsoft reported an increase in first-quarter profit.

General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) shares are also expected to remain in focus today as the company prepares to release its third-quarter financial results. Earlier, oil services company Schlumberger Limited (NYSE: SLB) reported its third-quarter financial results. The company reported third-quarter profit of $0.96 per share.

In Europe, markets are mostly higher in intra-day trading today following Thursday’s losses. Asian markets were mixed in trading today as investors remained cautious ahead of the summit in Brussels.

In the commodities market, crude oil is higher in early trading today. At last check, NYMEX crude oil futures were trading $0.29 higher at $86.36 a barrel.

Post Written By: Ed Liston Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications. He is widely quoted in various financial publications on the Internet. When Ed is not writing about stocks, investing in stocks, talking about stocks, or otherwise doing something stock related, he likes to go sailing and fishing in his yacht.