Markets await preliminary reading of 4Q GDP, as well as consumer and manufacturing figures.
January 30, 2004: 5:53 AM EST
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - U.S. stock markets will find out Friday how much the economy grew in the final three months of the year, and looking at some of the first key figures of this new year.
At 5:45 a.m. ET, futures pointed to a higher start for the major indexes.
Economists surveyed by Briefing.com expect the gross domestic product -- to be released before the market open -- to have grown at an annual rate of 5 percent in the fourth quarter. That preliminary number would be a strong figure, although not quite as strong as the third quarter rate of 8.2 percent.
After trading begins, the University of Michigan issues its final reading of consumer sentiment for January. The anticipated reading is 103, down from the preliminary reading of 103.2.
In addition, the National Association of Purchasing Management-Chicago puts out its regional manufacturing index for January, with the index seen rising to 62.1 from 59.2 in December, a sign of continued expansion.
For details of Thursday's mixed session, click above.
The Dow Jones industrial average managed a 0.4 percent gain Thursday, but the blue chip measure is exactly 58 points down for the week to date. The Nasdaq composite index lost 0.4 percent Thursday and needs about 44-1/2 points to get back to breakeven (see chart for details).
Asian-Pacific stocks ended mixed, with Tokyo's Nikkei index barely higher. European markets rose in early trading. (Check the latest on world markets)
Among U.S. stocks trading in Europe, Walt Disney (DIS: Research, Estimates) was down more than 2 percent after Pixar Amination (PIXR: Research, Estimates) said it was ending an affiliation with the media company that has included such huge computer-generated hits as "Toy Story" and "Finding Nemo."
Treasury prices edged lower in early trading, sending the 10-year note yield up to 4.18 percent from 4.17 percent late Thursday. The dollar rose against the euro but was a little weaker against the yen.
Brent oil futures rallied 27 cents to $29.40 a barrel in London. Gold rallied after a huge selloff Thursday.
O Clubeinvest.com informa que nenhuma da informação
aqui facultada deverá ser entendida como conselho ou recomendação
de qualquer tipo de transacção ou investimento.
