Stock index futures slipped on Friday as investors turned cautious ahead of a report expected to show slowing growth in the U.S. economy in the second quarter.
Stock index futures fell on Friday as investors turned cautious ahead of a report expected to show slower growth of the U.S. economy in the second quarter.
Honda Motor Co raised its full-year forecasts after posting a record quarterly net profit on Friday, while brisk sales returned France's Renault to profit in the first half.
Merck & Co reported higher-than-expected second-quarter earnings on Friday, helped by strong sales of its treatments for diabetes, arthritis and
HIV.
Economic growth likely slowed in the second quarter as a capital investment drive by businesses was sated by imports and consumer spending tapered off, a government report is expected to show on Friday.
Foreclosures rose in 3 of every four large U.S. metro areas in this year's first half, likely ruling out sustained home price gains until 2013, real estate data company RealtyTrac said on Thursday.
ad news emanating from the US may impact copper prices and demand in the coming months even though China's still hungry for the metal. US durable goods order was dismal after witnessing the decline in consumer confidence earlier this week. The negative impact of the news is expected to soften copper.
Global oil prices eased in Asian trade Friday, tracking weak stocks in the region as investors looking for second-quarter U.S. economic growth report, scheduled for later in the day. Light sweet crude for September delivery was seen trading at $78.11 a barrel at 12.00 noon Singapore time while Brent crude was at $ 77.41 a barrel in London.
Adverse weather conditions in major wheat producing regions prompted International Grains Council to trim estimates by 13 million tones this year. According to its latest report, the IGC also trimmed its forecast for world corn production, lowering its forecast for inventories of the grain to a four-year low.
Honda Motor Co posted its best quarterly operating profit in 2- years on Friday on brisk sales in the United States, China, and other Asian markets, and raised its forecasts despite a sharp rise in the yen.
Wall St stock index futures pointed to a lower start on Friday as investors stayed cautious ahead of U.S. GDP data, with S&P 500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq futures down 0.3 to 0.4 percent at 5:11 a.m. ET.
Toyota Motor Corp said on Thursday it would recall nearly 417,000 high-end passenger cars and SUVs in the United States and Canada to fix steering problems.
Airbus parent EADS made sweeping increases in its financial forecasts on Thursday and pledged to increase jetliner production after a spate of new orders raised hopes of an end to a steep industry recession.
The dollar fell to an eight-month low against the yen on Friday while European and Asian shares slipped on worries U.S. growth data due later in the day may show the world's biggest economy is losing steam.
Samsung Electronics , the world's No.1 memory chipmaker, warned of weaker margins and profit growth after posting record quarterly earnings, as prices of chips and flat screens drop and smartphone competition grows.
Japan's Nomura Holdings Inc and Australia's Macquarie painted a bleak picture of Asia's investment banking industry, citing a dearth of deals and frail markets.
Gold gained on Friday as jewelers across Asia replenished stocks and other physical buyers snapped up bullion ahead of U.S. second quarter GDP data that will offer clues on the direction of the economy.
With worries about the debt crisis in Europe diminishing, gold could attract safe-haven buying as growth in the U.S. economy probably slowed in the second quarter on reduced consumer spending.
Gold eased in thin Asian trade Friday, ahead of a key US second quarter GDP data, as the greenback rebounded against the euro.
Gold for immediate delivery was seen trading at $1167.08 an ounce at 12.00 noon Singapore time while U.S. gold futures for August delivery was at $1,167.1 an ounce.
Asian stocks sagged on Friday as worries U.S. growth data may surprise on the downside and downbeat comments from a Federal Reserve official gave investors reason to book profits from a steady rally this month.
The dollar fell to an eight-month low against the yen on Friday, hurt by selling from Japanese exporters and concerns that U.S. GDP data would add to signs of fading momentum for the U.S. economic recovery.
Oil prices rose on Thursday as the dollar weakened to a 12-week low against the euro, boosting demand for oil priced in dollars, and after European data showed eurozone economic sentiment has improved.
The dollar eked out small gains against the euro in early trade on Friday, but remained on the defensive near a three-month low against a basket of currencies on concerns U.S. growth may be disappointingly weak.
