US stock futures trending higher on coronavirus vaccine, stimulus news

U.S. equity futures are pointing higher hours before the opening bell as investors were encouraged by upbeat news on coronavirus vaccines and reports that lawmakers and the White House are making progress toward fresh stimulus for the U.S. economy.

The S&P 500 picked up 6.50 points to 3,708.50. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.25% to 30,244. The tech-heavy Nasdaq was fractionally lower at 12,630.

Small-company stocks rose much more than the rest of the market, a signal that investors are feeling more optimistic about the economy. The Russell 2000 index climbed 1.4%, to 1,917.78.S&P 500, NASDAQ HIT RECORDS AS CORONAVIRUS VACCINE ROLLOUT BEGINS

The need for a vaccine has grown more urgent as coronavirus cases surge across much of the world. The virus has claimed more than 1.5 million lives, including over 284,000 in the U.S., the highest toll of any country.

Governments worldwide have been tightening restrictions on businesses in an effort to stem the latest surge in cases, stoking worries about the potential economic fallout.

That's kept investors focused on Washington and the prospects for another round of aid for Americans and business hit hardest by the pandemic.

Late Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin said he had offered a $916 billion package to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that adds a $600 direct payment for most Americans.

Congress has been stuck in a partisan stalemate over the size and scope of any additional aid to help cushion the financial impact to people and businesses. The economy has been showing signs of a stalled recovery as the virus surge broadens nationally, including slower job growth in the U.S. last month.

TESLA'S $5B STOCK OFFERING TAPS SKYROCKETING VALUE

“With the markets starting to exhibit some year-end fatigue, any stimulus holiday stocking stuffer will come at a most welcome time and ensure that well-subscribed equity markets will cross the year-end finishing line on a positive note," Stephen Innes of Axi said in a commentary.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 0.94% from 0.92% late Tuesday.

Overnight, the S&P 500 rose 0.3%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq also hit a record high. Investors were encouraged by upbeat news on coronavirus vaccines and reports that lawmakers and the White House are making progress toward fresh stimulus for the U.S. economy.

The likelihood that distribution of one or more coronavirus vaccines could begin in the U.S. in coming weeks has kept investors in a buying mood, boosting optimism about an economic recovery next year.

As the U.K. became the first Western country to start a mass vaccination program, U.S. health regulators issued a positive initial review of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by U.S. drugmaker Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech. The Food and Drug Administration will meet Thursday to determine whether to green-light the distribution of that vaccine. Wide distribution of the shot is likely months away.

Meanwhile, Asian shares logged strong gains on Wednesday after another round of record highs for major indexes on Wall Street.

Benchmarks rose in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Seoul. Shanghai edged lower after China reported that its consumer price index slipped 0.5% in November compared with a year earlier.

Economists said the country’s first slip into deflation since 2009 was no cause for alarm. The overall measure was dragged down by falling food prices due to improvements in supplies of pork, which have been disrupted while authorities fight outbreaks of African swine fever, while other prices gained as economic activity recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE STORIES ON FOX BUSINESS

“Looking through the recent volatility in food and energy prices, the inflation data are less downbeat than meets the eye," Capital Economics said in a commentary. It noted that core consumer price inflation, excluding volatile food and energy prices, was steady at 0.5% from a year earlier. Strong demand was also driving a recovery manufactured goods' prices, it said.

Japan released data showing strong machinery orders in October, adding to signs its economy is on the mend.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index gained 1.1% to 26,769.31, while the Hang Seng in Hong Kong added 0.9% to 26,539.55. In South Korea, the Kospi jumped 1.5% to 2,738.67. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 advanced 0.6% to 6728.50, while the Shanghai Composite index slipped 0.3% to 3,399.64.

India's Sensex climbed 0.6% to 45,899.77. Shares were also higher in Southeast Asia.

In other trading, benchmark U.S. crude oil shed 14 cents to $45.46 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It lost 16 cents to $45.60 per barrel on Tuesday.

Brent crude, the international standard, lost 16 cents to $48.68 per barrel.

The dollar was trading at 104.15 Japanese yen, down from 104.19 yen late Tuesday. The euro rose to $1.2127 from $1.2103.