UKX FTSE 100 Index

U.S. stock futures inched higher ahead of a private employment report and services data that are likely to reflect efforts to open up segments of the economy hard hit by pandemic-related lockdowns.

Futures on the S&P 500 strengthened 0.2% and futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.2%. The contracts don't necessarily predict market moves after the opening bell.

In Europe, the Stoxx Europe 600 climbed 0.8% in morning trade. Communication services and information technology sectors led gains while the consumer staples sector lost ground.

The U.K.'s FTSE 100, which is dominated by large international businesses, rose 0.5%. Other stock indexes in Europe also mostly climbed as France's CAC 40 added 0.5%, the U.K.'s FTSE 250 added 0.3% and Germany's DAX climbed 0.9%.

The Swiss franc, the euro and the British pound fell 0.4%, 0.3% and 0.1% respectively against the U.S. dollar.

In commodities, international benchmark Brent crude gained 0.8% to $69.40 a barrel. Gold was flat, at $1,776.60 a troy ounce.

German 10-year bund yields rose to minus 0.226% and the 10-year U.K. government debt known as gilts yield gained to 0.812%. 10-year U.S. Treasury yields rose to 1.598% from 1.591%. Yields move inversely to prices.

In Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng declined 0.4%.

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 05, 2021 03:54 ET (07:54 GMT)

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