Futures rise on China trade data; focus on corporate results

By Medha Singh

(Reuters) – U.S. stock index futures gained on Tuesday as better-than-expected trade data from China and signs some economies might be preparing to ease sweeping lockdowns lifted the mood ahead of the first batch of quarterly earnings reports.

JPMorgan Chase & Co , Wells Fargo & Co and drugmaker Johnson and Johnson are slated to report first-quarter results shortly, with analysts forecasting a torrid season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Analysts expect a 10.2% slide in first-quarter earnings for S&P 500 firms, amid a meltdown in business activity from strict containment measures, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

The benchmark index has clawed back about 26% in the past month, powered by historic fiscal and monetary support and early signs that the crisis was peaking in some U.S. hot spots, but remains about 22% below its February all-time high.

President Donald Trump said late on Monday his administration was close to completing a plan to re-open the economy as the number of U.S. deaths from the virus had begun to plateau.

Meanwhile, data showed China’s exports and imports shrank less than expected in March as factories restarted production, but analysts warned a sure-footed recovery was months away.

At 05:45 a.m. ET, Dow e-minis were up 292 points, or 1.25%, S&P 500 e-minis were up 31.25 points, or 1.13% and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were up 119 points, or 1.43%.

SPDR S&P 500 ETFs were up 1.32%. The S&P 500 closed down 1.01% at 2,761.63 on Monday.

(Reporting by Medha Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)