Full Market Coverage HereU.S. stock index futures are trading higher ahead of retail sales data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are up 33 points to 11,285, the S&P 500 futures are up 3.60 points to 1,199 and the Nasdaq 100 futures are up 11 points to 2,144.70.
Lowe’s Cos. Inc. (NYSE: LOW) today announced its third-quarter financial results. The second-largest U.S. home-improvement retailer reported a 17% increase in third-quarter profit on the back of controlled labor expenses. Lowe’s reported third-quarter net income of $404 million, or $0.29 per share, up from $344 million, or $0.23 per share reported in the same period in 2009. Excluding one-time items, the company reported third-quarter earnings per share of $0.31, beating average analyst estimates of $0.30 per share. Shares of Lowe’s Cos. are up 0.28% to $21.75 in pre-market trading today.
EMC Corporation (NYSE: EMC) today announced that it intends to acquire data-storage company Isilon Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: ISLN) for $2.25 billion. Each of Isilon shareholders will be paid $33.85 per share, representing a premium of 29% over Friday’s closing price. EMC expects to close the deal by the end of this year. Shares of EMC Corporation are down 0.14% to $21.69 in pre-market trading. Meanwhile, shares of Isilon Systems are up 29.02% to $33.92 in pre-market trading today.
Crude oil rebounded in trading today, with oil for December delivery climbing $0.80 to $85.68 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.