A Peek Into The Markets: U.S. Stock Futures Mixed; Crude Oil Rises Over 4%

Pre-open movers

U.S. stock futures traded mixed in early pre-market trade. The U.S. Treasury budget data for November will be released at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 13 points to 19,724.00, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures dropped 0.50 points to 2,254.25. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index fell 18.50 points to 4,874.75.

Oil prices traded higher as Brent crude futures gained 4.20 percent to trade at $56.61 per barrel, while US WTI crude futures also rose 4.35 percent to trade at $53.74 a barrel.

A Peek Into Global Markets

European markets were mostly lower today, with the Spanish Ibex Index rising 0.19 percent, STOXX Europe 600 Index falling 0.19 percent and German DAX 30 index dropping 0.08 percent. The UK's FTSE index was trading lower by 0.29 percent, while French CAC 40 Index climbed 0.07 percent.

In Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average rose 0.84 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped 1.44 percent, China’s Shanghai Composite Index fell 2.47 percent and India’s BSE Sensex declined 0.87 percent.

Broker Recommendation

Analysts at BMO Capital upgraded C R Bard Inc (NYSE: BCR) from Market Perform to Outperform.

C.R. Bard shares rose 1.42 percent to close at $216.64 on Friday.

Breaking news

• Cimpress NV (NASDAQ: CMPR) agreed to acquire National Pen Co. LLC for $218 million.
• Twenty-First Century Fox Inc (NASDAQ: FOXA) confirmed Friday it has reached an agreement in principle regarding a possible offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares in Sky (OTC: SKYAY) it does not already own for £10.75 per share in cash less the value of any dividends subsequently paid by Sky. The offer is subject to material offer terms under discussion. On Sunday, an unnamed major shareholder told Reuters the bid was too low and they would vote against the deal.
• Hedge fund Bow Street has offered to buy NorthStar Realty Europe Corp (NYSE: NRE) for $13 per share, according to a letter seen by Reuters and reported on Friday. Bow Street is also demanding that NRE sever its management contract with NorthStar Asset Management Group Inc (NYSE: NSAM), the letter indicates.
• Shares of Stone Energy Corporation (NYSE: SGY) surged over 18 percent in pre-market trading after the company reported extensions to a restructuring support agreement on Friday.