By Anora Mahmudova and Barbara Kollmeyer, MarketWatch
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock futures stuck to moderate
losses ahead of Wall Street's open on Monday, with a lack of
economic data putting the focus on deals news from General Electric
Co. and Multimedia Games Holding Co.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJU4) fell 32
points to 17,085, while those for the S&P 500 index (SPU4) lost
3.8 points to 2,002.20. Futures for the Nasdaq-100 index (NDU4)
fell 3 points to 4,083.75.
Consumer-credit data for July is due at 3 p.m. Eastern Time, but
otherwise, the data calendar remains largely quiet until retail
sales data is released on Friday.
China, meanwhile, reported a surprise fall in imports and a
widening trade deficit.
"U.S. indexes have seen rises over the past 5 weeks -- now
having digested news that recent China trade data is weak, and that
Japanese GDP (gross domestic product) has shrunk at its fastest
pace in over 5 years -- the reality is that global economies aren't
where they should be," said Brenda Kelly, chief strategist at IG,
in emailed comments.
Investors shrugged off a weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs report
released on Friday, and the S&P 500 index (SPX) and Dow
industrials (DJU4) logged fifth-straight weekly gains. Also read:
Stock-picking gains traction as volatility looms
Stocks to watch: Multimedia Games (MGAM) shares surged 29% in
premarket trade after the electronic gaming company announced a
$1.2 billion deal to be acquired by Global Cash Access Holdings
Inc.(GCA).
Meanwhile, GE (GE) is selling its appliances unit for $3.3
billion to Sweden's Electrolux. GE has been trying to exit its
century-old appliance business for several years. GE shares were
little changed in the premarket, while Electrolux shares jumped 8%,
making it the biggest mover for the Stoxx Europe 600 .
Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO) shares were up 2% premarket as China's
largest e-commerce Alibaba Group said it would seek $66 per share,
hoping to raise $4.3 billion in an IPO. Yahoo own 24% of
Alibaba.
Campbell Soup Co. (CPB) shares fell 3.2% after the maker of
soups posted a disappointing profit outlook. Also read: See the
day's notable stock moves
Pound, oil on the wane: The London FTSE 100 index slid 1%,
dragging Europe stocks lower after a weekend poll showed
pro-Scottish independence voters in the lead ahead of a referendum
Sept. 18. The pound(GBPUSD) sank over 1% against the dollar to
around nine-month lows.
Brent crude for October was back above $100 a barrel, after
earlier dropping below that level on weak China trade data.
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