US futures rise before shortened trading session

[July 03, 2012]  NEW YORK (AP) -- U.S. stock futures are following global markets higher ahead of a shortened trading session a day before the Independence Day holiday.

Discouraging manufacturing data out of both China and the U.S. this week increased speculation Tuesday that policy makers may make another attempt to stimulate the economy and keep a nascent recovery moving forward.

Dow Jones industrial average futures are up 2 points at 12,778. Standard & Poor's 500 futures added 0.60 points to 1,358.20 and Nasdaq futures are up 3.75 points to 2,618.

The Commerce Department reports on U.S. factory orders for May. Economists surveyed by FactSet predict factory orders were flat. That report is scheduled for release at 10 a.m. Eastern.

The U.S. stock markets close at 1 p.m. Eastern -- three hours earlier than normal.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.