Wall Street edges up despite oil's decline


(MENAFN- ProactiveInvestors) U.S. stock futures turned slightly higher early Tuesday despite oil's continued plunge a day after the Dow posted its worst day in three months dropping 331 points.

After falling under $50 a barrel for the first time in five years yesterday due to a global supply glut WTI crude was back down at $49.06 a barrel down more than 2% in New York trading following Monday's 5% drop to lows not seen since April 2009.

Japan's Nikkei stock average fell 3% overnight its worst day since mid March due to falling oil prices and concerns about the eurozone. China's Shanghai Composite bucked the negative trend in Asia ending up 0.1% after the country's HSBC services PMI rose to 53.4 last month from November's 53 -- its fastest pace in three months.

In Europe Markit's final December composite PMI missed an earlier flash reading of 51.7 coming in at 51.4 with the weakness calling for more aggressive bank stimulus. European markets were mixed at the time of writing. 

On the US economic calendar investors get readings on December ISM nonmanufacturing and November factory orders both scheduled for release at 10:00am ET. 

In corporate activity Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) was up premarket after the company said it has started a trial of its experimental Ebola vaccine in the UK saying it will produce 2 million courses of the shot this year. 

Verizon (NYSE:VZ) has reportedly refused to comment on reports it has approached AOL (NYSE:AOL) about a potential acquisition or joint venture to expand its mobile video offerings. Shares of AOL jumped over 5% premarket.

Coach (NYSE:COH) has confirmed it is buying privately-held luxury shoe maker Stuart Weitzman in a deal valued at up to $574 million. Sycamore Partners acquired Stuart Weitzman last year as part of its $2.2 billion purchase of Jones Group.

Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) has acquired Wit.ai the creator of a voice recognition tech platform whose interface will remain open and free after it joins Facebook. The social network declined to say how much it paid for the company.

Xoom (NASDAQ:XOOM) fell more than 8% in premarket trading after the online money transfer company said someone stole over $30 million in corporate cash by transferring it to an overseas account.

Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU) was also one to watch Tuesday as the chipmaker reports its quarterly results after the closing bell. The stock is up about 60% in the past 12 months.

Gold futures for February delivery rose $8 to $1212 an ounce in New York.


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