US stock index futures registered little gains Tuesday as investors turn their concentration toward the commencement of a two-day meeting of Federal Reserve policy makers that’s likely to give additional monetary stimulus, whereas keeping in view talks aimed at avoiding the alleged fiscal cliff.
S&P 500 Index futures advanced 2.5 points to 1,422.70. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 27 points to 13,214. Nasdaq 100 futures enhanced 4.75 points to 2,655.25.
Strategists at Barclays commented that financial markets continue to trade sideways in a setting where headlines seem to have lost their bite. Poor liquidity situation as they approach the close of the year seem to be keeping portfolios on a tight leash around their standards. [article_detail_ad_1]
Among the firms with shares likely to heavily trade in Tuesday’s session are Urban Outfitters, HCA Holdings and Limited Brands Inc.
Urban Outfitters, Inc. (NASDAQ:URBN) offered a greater-than-projected snapshot of its Q4, saying in a filing after the market settlement that same-store sales in its retail business are “high single-digit positive” up to now this quarter.
Janney on Friday stated that consensus was for a mid-single digit gain, given solid Black Friday showings at the firm’s namesake and FreePeople shops. Shares rose 6.5% to $39.41 in extended trade.
HCA Holdings Inc (NYSE:HCA) announced its two major stockholders are offering 32 million shares as they recuperate their interest in the operator of private hospitals. Shares declined 2.6% to $33 in extended trading hours.
Limited Brands, Inc. (NYSE:LTD) disclosed a special dividend of $3 per share, which will be rewarded on December 26, joining a growing list of firms that have acknowledged special dividends ahead of coming year’s potential “fiscal-cliff.”
The retailer’s shares advanced 2.7% to $52 in extended trade. The firm reported that the total payment will be almost $865.2 million based on nearly 288.4 million outstanding shares.