Futures stateside up slightly



U.S. stock index futures pushed higher ahead of Monday's open, adding to the gains from international markets.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials improved 49 points, or 0.2%, to 25,723

S&P 500 futures picked up four points, or 0.1%, to 2,856.25, while futures for the NASDAQ composite climbed 17.75 points, or 0.2%, to 7,405.50

Fabrinet and Nordson Corporation are among the companies reporting earnings today.

On the central banking front, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic is set to make an appearance Monday at a fireside chat at the Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol Chamber of Commerce in Kingsport, Tennessee.

The Economic Symposium, set to take place at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, from Thursday until Saturday, meantime will focus on changing market structure and the implications for monetary policy going forward. It will also feature a speech from Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

Many markets in Europe and Asia posted solid gains, helping support U.S. futures, following positive trade developments between the U.S. and China.

Overseas, in Japan, the Nikkei 225 dropped 0.3% while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index gained 1.4%.

Oil prices gained four cents to $65.95 U.S. a barrel.

Gold prices increased $9.20 to $1,193.40 U.S. an ounce.