REUTERS: U.S. stock index futures were marginally lower on Wednesday ahead of the release of details of an initial U.S.-China trade deal, with investors also digesting the second round of bank earnings after a strong set of reports on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He are set to sign the Phase 1 trade deal, which aims to vastly increase Chinese purchases of U.S.-manufactured products, agricultural goods, energy and services. Bank of America Corp followed JPMorgan Chase & Co and Citigroup Inc in reporting better-than-expected results, supported by its bond trading division. The lender's shares were flat in premarket trading.The world's largest asset manager, BlackRock Inc , beat analysts' profit estimates as more money rolled into its cash management business and exchange-traded funds. Its shares rose 1per cent.
UnitedHealth Group Inc , the largest U.S. health insurer, slipped 1.8per cent after it affirmed its full-year outlook for 2020 adjusted earnings.