Think Tank & All~
Rather than writing this up, here is a piece just out:
----
U.S. Stocks Set to Open Last Trading Day of May in the Red; Traders
Anticipate Volatile Session 05/31 31-May-13 08:08:00
09:08 AM EDT, 05/31/2013 (MidnightTrader) -- U.S. stock futures geared
up for a lower open ahead of a relatively busy economic calendar while
traders are bracing for some end-of-month volatility.
Already released this a.m. was data that showed that consumer spending
dropped 0.2% in April, compared to the 0.1% decrease economists polled
by MarketWatch were expecting. This was the fastest reduction in
spending in almost a year. At the same time, the commerce department
reported that income growth was flat. The savings rate held steady at
2.5%, near a five-year low.
Also on today's calendar, At 9:45 a.m., the Chicago PMI for May will
be released. Economists forecast that the Chicago PMI will come in at
49.9, still under the key 50 mark that would indicate expansion.
In addition, at 9:55 a.m. ET the final reading of the University of
Michigan's consumer sentiment survey for May will be released. It is
expected to edge up to 83.8.
Overseas, European stocks are lower while Asian stocks closed down.
Commodities are mixed pre-bell. Crude oil fell as an OPEC meeting
kicked off, with futures last down 0.73%. Gold futures are down 0.45%.
U.S. PRE-MARKET INDICATORS
-Dow Jones Industrial down 0.52%
-S&P 500 futures down 0.59%
----