(MENAFN– ecpulse) The Dow Jones Industrial Average was heading for its third day of losses Thursday, with investors yearning for reasons to push markets higher as they await another round of corporate earnings.
Stocks have been off to a rocky start in 2014 while bonds have outperformed. After last year`s big rally, investors are looking for signs the economy will be strong enough to keep the bull market going.
U.S. stock futures were broadly weaker, with the Dow Jones industrial average and the S&P 500 losing ground, while the NASDAQ inched higher.
-Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.454% to 16243
-Futures on the S&P 500 index dropped 0.408% to 1831.10
-Futures on the NASDAQ 100 dropped 0.145% to 3615.25 . As of 06:59 a.m. ET
This followed yesterday’s mixed closing, as the Dow fell, and both the NASDAQ and the S&P 500 ending with minor gains.
Earnings get rolling Thursday morning with results from McDonald’s and Nokia , while Microsoft and Starbucks are due in the afternoon.
Also, investors look forward to the Labor Department’s weekly update for jobless claims, due at 08:30 a.m., followed by data on existing home sales.
European markets were mixed in morning trading, with data that showed a notable improvement in manufacturing activity all over the Eurozone.
France`s CAC 40 was up 0.2%. Germany`s Dax turned the other way, slipping 0.2%.
Asian markets notched sharp falls following a disappointing report on manufacturing activity in China. Hong Kong`s Hang Seng Index dropped 1.5% and Korea`s Kospi lost 1.2%. Japan`s Nikkei closed down 0.8%
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