Russell 2000 futures down slightly
The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) futures are a hair below the closing level on Friday and the small-cap index will likely open down.
With little corporate or economic news, stocks have little incentive to move either way this morning.
Exciting the bulls is news that Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), the second-largest provider of U.S.-funded health benefits, reported a fourth-quarter profit of $243.2 million, or $1.43 per share, compared with $155 million, or $0.92 per share, a year earlier. The result beats analysts’ estimates and is due to higher enrollment in Medicare plans and lower medical expenses.
However, the financial sector is looking down following news that a unit of Wachovia Corp. (NYSE: WB) may be downgraded by Moody’s Investors Service. Similarly, shares of American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) are sagging in pre-market trading on news that UBS AG has recommended selling the stock.
Investors will also be looking at figures on December factory orders, to be released by the U.S. Census Bureau at 10 a.m. ET, for more clues about the state of the economy.
Here are the biggest percentage gainers and losers in pre-market trading among companies with a market cap between $100 million and $750 million:
• CNinsure Inc. (CISG), up 19% on news of a partnership with a Chinese insurance company.
• Integral Systems, Inc. (ISYS), up 11% on news of a rise in first-quarter profit and revenues.
• Anesiva, Inc. (ANSV), up 9%.
• MicroStrategy Inc. (MSTR), down 11% on news that fourth-quarter profit missed analysts’ projections.
• Coldwater Creek Inc. (CWTR), down 7%.
• First Financial Service Corp. (FFKY), down 5%.
