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U.S. stock index futures pointed to a mixed open on Wednesday, as investors turned their attention to upcoming data releases, while keeping a watchful eye on moves in the tech and oil sectors.
Ahead of the opening bell, futures for the Dow Jones Industrials poked up 22 points, or 0.1%, to 21,313. Futures for the S&P 500 gained 4.25 points, or 0.2%, to 2,424.75. NASDAQ futures took on 6.25 points, or 0.1%, to 5,682.75, as large-cap tech stocks like Facebook and Apple traded lower in the pre-market.
Tech stocks were under pressure Tuesday after EU regulators hit Google with a 2.4-billion-euro ($2.7-billion U.S.) fine, stating that the tech giant had violated antitrust rules when it came to its online shopping practices.
Elsewhere, Monsanto, General Mills, Paychex, and Pier 1 Imports are set to report earnings on Wednesday.
Economically speaking, mortgage applications fell 6% last week. International trade in goods data and pending home sales are due later this morning.
The American Petroleum Institute (API) said on Tuesday that U.S. crude inventories rose by 851,000 barrels last week, while analysts expected a decline. The API said inventories of gasoline and distillates also increased.
European markets were trading in the red as of noon on the continent, while in Asia, the Nikkei 225 in Japan dropped 0.5%, while Shanghai’s CSI 300 subtracted 0.8%
Oil prices caved 16 cents to $44.08 U.S. per barrel.
Gold prices acquired $6.20 to $1,253.10 U.S. an ounce.
