ND: U.S. Stock Futures Lose Ground Ahead Of Durable-goods Data
By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch
Time Warner Cable rallies premarket on takeover news
U.S. stocks were on early track for another day of losses Tuesday, ahead of closely watched durable-goods and housing reports that could further strengthen the case for an interest-rate hike this year.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YMM5) pulled back 18 points, or 0.1%, to 18,206, while those for the S&P 500 index (ESM5) lost 4.10 points, or 0.2%, to 2,120.50. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index (NQM5) gave up 8.50 points, or 0.2%, to 4,520.25.
U.S. markets were closed for Memorial Day on Monday.
The benchmarks were keying off weakness from last week, when Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen warned that a rate hike is still in the cards for 2015. Stronger-than-expected inflation data on Friday further added to speculation that the first monetary tightening will come before the end of the year, as growth in consumer prices is moving closer to the Fed's target.
The dollar rallied on the back of the inflation data on Friday and continued its ascent on Tuesday (http:// www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid). The ICE dollar index (DXY) jumped 1% to 97, while the greenback climbed to an almost eight-year high against the yen at Yen122.74, up from Yen121.56 on Monday.
Data: Economic figures out on Tuesday will also be scrutinized by investors for any strength or weakness that could play into the timing of a Fed move.
First up are durable-goods orders at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. They are expected to have fallen by 0.5% in April, according to a poll of economists by MarketWatch.
"Given that rate hikes will always be 'data dependent', bullish traders won't want to see a meet or beat on April's durable-goods orders," said Brenda Kelly, head analyst at London Capital Group in a note.
"We are back to the heady days where bad news is positive for equities. Assuming we ever left those days," she added.
At 9 a.m. Eastern Time, the Case-Shiller home-price index and FHFA home-price index for March are due, followed by May consumer confidence and new home sales for April at 10 a.m. Eastern.
Fed speakers: Fed Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer speaks on "the Fed and the global economy" in Tel Aviv, Israel at 7:30 p.m. local time or 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
Also read: Fed's Fischer sees short-term rate at 3.25%-4% in three to four years (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ feds-fischer-sees-short-term-rate-at-325-4-in-three-to-four-years-2015-05-26)
Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker, who is not a voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee this year, gives a speech on financial stability at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La. at 8:10 p.m. Eastern.
Earnings: Reporting ahead of the bell, AutoZone Inc.(AZO) said third-quarter same-store sales rose 2.3%, while earnings per share climbed 13% to $9.57.
Then after the bell, TiVo Inc.(TIVO) is expected to post first-quarter earnings of 7 cents a share, unchanged from a year earlier.
Movers and shakers: Shares of Time Warner Cable Inc.(TWC) surged 8.5% ahead of the bell, after Charter Communications Inc. (CCMMV) said it will buy the cable-TV company (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/charter-to-merge-with-time-warner- in-55-billion-deal-2015-05-26-61034117) for $55 billion in a cash-and-stock deal. Charter shares were 3.7% higher premarket.
Cerulean Pharma Inc. (CERU) jumped 8.7% ahead of the bell after the biotech company said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan drug designation to its CRLX101 drug, a treatment for ovarian cancer
Other markets: European stock markets were mainly lower as investors continued to track developments in Greece's bailout negotiations (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/greece-wont-meet-imf-repayments-in-june-interior-minister-says- 2015-05-24). The euro traded as low as $1.0884 on Tuesday, its lowest level since April 28, down from $1.0978 on Monday
Asian markets closed mixed (http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid), while oil (http://www.marketwatch.com/ storyno-meta-for-guid)(CLN5) and metals prices were hit by the dollar rally.
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