http://www.rttnews.comGlobal financial news, market analysis, economics and forex newsen-usWed, 16 May 2012 14:00:06 GMTThe major U.S. index futures are pointing to a higher opening on Wednesday, with sentiment suggesting a rebound from recent losses. Though the Greek political crisis is yet unresolved, traders can take some comfort from a domestic economic report, which showed a strong increase in the housing starts for April. Traders may now focus on the industrial production report due to be released before the markets open.http://www.rttnews.com/story.aspx?Id=1887765Wed, 16 May 2012 13:20:46 GMTThe major U.S. index futures are pointing to a flat to modestly higher opening on Tuesday. The scenario in Europe that had caused much of the recent sell-off is largely unchanged. With the probability of Greece going for fresh elections increasing, a decisive upturn is unlikely.Meanwhile, belying expectations, the eurozone economy expanded, thanks to robust performance by the German economy.http://www.rttnews.com/story.aspx?Id=1886508Tue, 15 May 2012 13:27:07 GMTThe major U.S. index futures are pointing to a lower opening on Monday, with the risk aversion intensifying on the developments in the eurozone. The Greek crisis is assuming enormous proposition, as it has failed to avert the political crisis stemming from a hung parliament. The specter of the nation going to elections for a second time is looming large due to the disagreement among the major political parties over the formation of government.http://www.rttnews.com/story.aspx?Id=1885258Mon, 14 May 2012 13:09:48 GMTThe major U.S. index futures are pointing to a higher opening on Thursday, with sentiment getting a lift from a report which showed that jobless claims came largely in line with expectations. The recent losses are likely to bring in some bargain hunters, who may be encouraged to pick up stocks at lower levels, as the European debt concerns fade and economic data turns promising. That said, caution is likely, as underlying problems are unresolved and Cisco (CSCO) gave a weak outlook.http://www.rttnews.com/story.aspx?Id=1882702Thu, 10 May 2012 13:33:17 GMTThe major U.S. index futures are pointing to a lower opening on Wednesday, with negativity built on the back of the European political developments gathering further momentum. The bleak outlook for Europe has triggered a massive exodus from risky bets, with crude oil and gold trading at fresh multi-month lows. The euro has retreated further below the $1.3000 level. The absence of any major catalysts has precluded any revival and increased the preoccupation about the political crisis brewhttp://www.rttnews.com/story.aspx?Id=1881311Wed, 09 May 2012 13:20:48 GMTThe major U.S. index futures are pointing to a lower opening on Tuesday, with a lack of agreement among political parties to form a coalition government in Greece worrying traders enormously. Riskier assets such as the euro and commodities have taken a beating as traders steered clear amid the fluid political situation in Greece. Among global economic data, Australia reported a wider deficit for March, while Germany reported industrial output growth for March that exceeded forecasts.http://www.rttnews.com/story.aspx?Id=1880023Tue, 08 May 2012 13:23:46 GMTThe major U.S. index futures are pointing to a lower opening on Monday, although they have come off their early lows. The political developments in Europe may leave traders wary over the global economic outlook, while they may also react to the Federal Reserve's consumer credit report and a Fed speech scheduled for the day. That said, recent losses could bring some bargain hunters into the markets.http://www.rttnews.com/story.aspx?Id=1878942Mon, 07 May 2012 13:34:01 GMTThe major U.S. index futures are pointing to a slightly higher opening on Friday, with sentiment firming up after the release of a mixed job report. The government report showed that the economy added lesser jobs than had been anticipated. However, with the revisions to the previous two months' numbers, job growth has been largely in line. The unemployment rate edged down slightly compared with expectations for an unchanged rate.http://www.rttnews.com/story.aspx?Id=1877156Fri, 04 May 2012 13:06:00 GMTThe major U.S. index futures are pointing to a slightly higher opening on Thursday, with a positive jobless claims data did not providing adequate thrust to push the futures from their indecisive state. Across the Atlantic, the European Central Bank did not announce any stimulatory props. Earnings news could largely be described as mixed. Against this backdrop, the markets may stay tuned to the Institute for Supply Management's service sector survey due to be released after the markets open.http://www.rttnews.com/story.aspx?Id=1876012Thu, 03 May 2012 13:20:13 GMTThe major U.S. index futures are pointing to a lower opening on Wednesday, with sentiment hit by a report showing smaller than expected additions to private sector payrolls. Earlier in the day, a report showed that the eurozone's manufacturing sector contracted at a steeper than initially estimated rate. A separate report showed that eurozone's unemployment rate rose to a record high. These data points are expected to cloud the economic outlook and render the mood cautious.http://www.rttnews.com/story.aspx?Id=1874385Wed, 02 May 2012 13:07:21 GMTThe major U.S. index futures are pointing to a roughly flat open on Tuesday ahead of the release of some key economic data not long after the start of trading. Reaction to the reports on national manufacturing and construction spending are likely to drive trading. Trading activity may remain subdued throughout the session, however, as many of the overseas markets are closed due to May Day holidays. Protests by the Occupy Wall Street movement may also keep some traders away from their desks.http://www.rttnews.com/story.aspx?Id=1873132Tue, 01 May 2012 13:08:36 GMTThe major U.S. index futures are pointing to a lower opening on Monday, with sentiment remaining modestly negative amid the release of a report showing a smaller than expected increase in consumer spending for April. The Dow and the S&P 500 Index are going into the session after four straight sessions of gains. Now the focus shifts to a regional manufacturing data that is due to be released shortly after the markets open.http://www.rttnews.com/story.aspx?Id=1871926Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:25:58 GMTStocks are poised for a mild decline at the start of Monday's session, giving back some of the gains seen last week. http://www.rttnews.com/story.aspx?Id=1871879Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:49:41 GMTThe major U.S. index futures are pointing to a higher opening on Friday, with sentiment receiving some support from positive earnings and a GDP report that showed fairly healthy growth, although it represented a slowdown from the previous quarter. A bond auction by Italy turned in mixed results, with the nation able to raise proceeds close to the high end of its target, while yields and borrowing costs were higher than in earlier auctions.http://www.rttnews.com/story.aspx?Id=1870659Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:30:23 GMTThe major U.S. index futures are pointing to a lower opening on Thursday, with sentiment being weighed down by a report showing a smaller than expected drop in jobless claims in the recent reporting week. The attention now shifts to a housing report due for release after the markets open. If the housing data surprises to the upside, the markets could avert a pullback. Earnings news at best could be termed as mixed, with oil giant Exxon Mobil (XOM) reporting a dip in its first quarter profits.http://www.rttnews.com/story.aspx?Id=1869402Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:21:00 GMTThe major U.S. index futures are pointing to a mixed opening on Tuesday, with sentiment still wavering as a consumer confidence and housing data loom. Although some bargain hunting could be expected, a strong rebound is unlikely, as the eurozone debt crisis still lingers on. Debt offerings by peripheral nations Netherlands and Spain and Italy passed off smoothly, with the troubled nations successful in raising debt closer to the high end of their target despite an increase in borrowing costs.http://www.rttnews.com/story.aspx?Id=1866649Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:20:50 GMTThe major U.S. index futures are pointing to a sharply lower opening on Monday, with sentiment turning markedly negative following the release of a few economic reports, which showed contraction of the manufacturing sectors in China and the eurozone. Additionally, eurozone debt concerns have flared up after a couple of developments in the region. In Netherlands, a political crisis looms following the disagreement among the ruling coalition over budget cuts.http://www.rttnews.com/story.aspx?Id=1865572Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:24:39 GMTThe major U.S. index futures are pointing to a higher opening on Friday, with sentiment receiving support from some solid earnings reports. Bellwethers such as Microsoft (MSFT) and General Electric (GE) reported forecast-beating results, increasing confidence in corporate profit growth. Earlier in the day, a German business sentiment survey also produced encouraging results.http://www.rttnews.com/story.aspx?Id=1864633Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:27:12 GMTThe major U.S. index futures are pointing to a slightly higher opening on Thursday, with most of the early gains squandered following the release of the U.S. jobless claims report, which showed a smaller than expected decline in jobless claims. Earnings news has been mostly positive, with bank earnings eliciting positive response from traders. That said, there are disappointments as well, such as the guidance from Qualcomm (QCOM).http://www.rttnews.com/story.aspx?Id=1863730Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:24:14 GMTThe major U.S. index futures are pointing to a lower opening on Wednesday, with sentiment likely to be impacted by European debt fears, which intensified following the release of a report by Bank of Spain showing a deterioration in bad debts held by domestic banks. U.S. technology earnings received mixed reception from the markets, with the slowdown in revenue growth at bellwethers Intel (INTC) and IBM (IBM) worrying traders despite their earnings beating expectations.http://www.rttnews.com/story.aspx?Id=1862666Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:21:14 GMTThe major U.S. index futures are pointing to a higher opening on Tuesday, with sentiment receiving a lift from a robust German economic sentiment reading and fairly positive Spanish debt auctions. Meanwhile, a U.S. housing report released earlier in the day presented a mixed picture. U.S. housing starts unexpectedly fell in March, while building permits, considered an indicator of future housing activity, rose sharply.http://www.rttnews.com/story.aspx?Id=1861735Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:10:57 GMT