U.S. stocks futures on Wall Street headed lower on Thursday in advance of fresh sales numbers from the nation’s retailers and losses in foreign markets.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 30 points to 10,516, while those for the Nasdaq 100 fell 5.5 points to 1,871.21. Futures for the S&P 500 dropped 5.4 points to 1,127.70.
On Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.66 points, while the S&P 500 added less than a point, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 7.62 points.
Kraft Foods Inc. said yesterday that holders of 1.5 percent of the shares in Cadbury PLC have accepted its hostile takeover offer, but the US company may gain more support as its offer moves closer to Cadbury’s market value. Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE:KFT, $28.97, +$0.20, 0.70%) fell 1.10 percent to $28.65 on Thursday morning pre-market trading session, while on Wednesday, shares of Kraft Foods rose 0.70 percent, closed on $28.97.
Zumiez Inc. (ZUMZ) announced after the close Wednesday that December comparable store sales increased by 0.3%. The company also increased its fourth quarter EPS forecast to between $0.24 and $0.27, from prior expectations of $0.18 to $0.22. Zumiez Inc. (NASDAQ:ZUMZ, $12.68, +$0.39, 3.17%) jumped 16.80 percent to $14.81 on Thursday morning pre-market trading session, even on Wednesday, Zumiez shares were higher 3.17 percent, closed on $12.68.
Shaw Group’s fiscal first-quarter loss narrowed, helped by strength in maintenance operations and the environmental and infrastructure segment. The results, which topped Wall Street expectations. The Shaw Group Inc. (NYSE:SHAW, $29.75, +$0.71, 2.44%) rose 6.22 percent to $31.60 on Thursday morning pre-market trading session, even on Wednesday, shares of Shaw Group climbed 2.44 percent, closed on $29.75.
A. Schulman Inc.’s (SHLM) fiscal first-quarter profit more than doubled as the plastics compounds and chemical company boosted margins despite falling sales and volumes. The results blew away expectations and the company said conditions were improving. A. Schulman, Inc. (NASDAQ:SHLM, $21.26, -$0.02, -0.09%) jumped 5.83 percent to $22.50 on Thursday morning pre-market trading session, while on Wednesday, A. Schulman shares dropped 0.09 percent, closed on $21.26.
The Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP) employment report released Wednesday revealed a loss of 84,000 jobs in the private sector in December, the 23rd decline in a row, but the fewest jobs lost since March 2008. Automatic Data Processing (NASDAQ:ADP, $42.50, -$0.10, -0.23%) fell 0.42 percent to $42.32 on Thursday morning pre-market trading session, even on Wednesday, shares of Automatic Data Processing declined 0.23 percent, closed on $42.50.
Standard Microsystems Corp.’s (SMSC) fiscal third-quarter profit–its first in a year–dropped 25% on a larger provision for income taxes. The semiconductor-equipment and circuits maker’s results topped its forecast and the current quarter’s revenue view exceeded analysts’ expectations. Standard Microsystems Corp. (NASDAQ:SMSC, $23.07, +$0.19, 0.83%) dropped 1.17 percent to $22.80 on Thursday morning pre-market trading session, while on Wednesday, Standard Microsystems shares jumped 0.83 percent, closed on $23.07.
Ruby Tuesday Inc. (RT) swung to a fiscal second-quarter profit as the restaurant chain boosted traffic and shed a big charge that hurt year-ago results. Ruby Tuesday, Inc. (NYSE:RT, $7.67, +$0.24, 3.23%) rose 3.00 percent to $7.90 on Thursday morning pre-market trading session, even on Wednesday, shares of Ruby Tuesday climbed 3.23 percent, closed on $7.67.
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