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 * The benchmark S&P index jumped more than 1 percent for a second
straight day on Tuesday, powered by energy shares as oil prices
continued their recent run higher, with upbeat January auto sales
also boosting the climb.
* Investors will eye the January private-sector employment report
from payrolls processor ADP at 8:15 a.m. (1315 GMT) for signs of
continuing improvement in the labor market. Expectations call for
225,000 jobs, down from the 241,000 jobs added in December.
* The S&P 500 has gained 2.8 percent over two sessions as the
bounceback in oil prices and hopes of a Greek debt deal eased some
concerns about the global economy, although the index has been
locked in a trading range of 1,972 to 2,093 since mid-December and
is nearly flat since Dec. 31. Equities have seen more volatility in
2015, with the daily trading range in the index often double its
average over the past year.
* Later in the session at 9:45 a.m. (1445 GMT), financial data firm
Markit will release its final January reading on the services
sector. At 10 a.m. (1500 GMT), the Institute for Supply Management
will release its reading on the services sector.
* Oil prices declined after a four-day rally of nearly 20 percent as
a new build in U.S. crude stock levels put a global glut back in
focus. U.S. crude was down 3 percent to $51.44 and Brent was
off 2.1 percent to $56.68. Contract driller Transocean fell 1.4
percent to $18.14 in premarket trade.
* Gilead Sciences shares dropped 5.9 percent to $100.90 in premarket
after the drugmaker posted quarterly results and said it is offering
steeper-than-expected discounts on its hepatitis C drugs to health
insurers and other group payers who had complained about the price.
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* Office Depot shares were up 6 percent to $9.84 per share before
the opening bell. Staples said it would buy its rival for $6.3
billion in cash and stock.
* European stocks were flat but better-than-expected results from
LVMH sparked a rally in the shares of luxury goods makers. In Asia
the Nikkei closed 2 percent higher as banks outperformed on
strong earnings from Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group.
Futures snapshot at 7:25 a.m. EST (1225 GMT):
* S&P 500 e-minis were down 7 points, or 0.34 percent, with 128,343
contracts changing hands.
* Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 15.25 points, or 0.36 percent, in
volume of 20,105 contracts.
* Dow e-minis were down 32 points, or 0.18 percent, with 22,780
contracts changing hands.
(Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
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