Stocks in Europe were edging higher early on Wednesday, with U.S. equity futures also rising modestly ahead of a batch of data including revised growth estimates. Marks & Spencer shares rose after well-received results.
Dow Jones Industrial Average YM00, +0.20%, S&P 500 ES00, +0.24% and Nasdaq Composite COMP, -0.03% futures rose, following a softer close on lower Tuesday amid weaker-than-expected readings on consumer confidence and home sales. Weekly jobless claims, and revised first-quarter gross domestic product data and durable goods orders are expected on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Fabio Panetta, an executive board member at the European Central Bank said it was “clearly premature” to discuss any paring of emergency asset buying in the single currency zone even though the economic outlook is “improving.”