Flat to lower open as crude offsets income data

Small-cap stocks are expected to open steady to lower, with pressure from rising crude oil prices, slumping bank stocks and a sell-off in global equities overnight countered by a better-than-expected personal income report. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down about 0.2% in after-hours trading, which suggests a cash opening near 697.

Crude oil prices climbed to yet another record higher in overnight action, moving above $142 dollars a barrel. Although the market pulled back to around $141 dollars, it’s still unnerving to equities to go into the weekend with record highs in tow.

The personal income report came in at plus 1.9%, which was much better than the forecast for a rise of 0.7%. The May core personal consumption expenditure index was up 0.1%, (slightly below the 0.2% forecast), which sparked a recovery bounce in stock index futures from the overnight lows.

Equity markets around the world tumbled overnight, catching up with the big slide registered in U.S. stock markets Thursday. Japan shares were down 2%, Hong Kong off 1.8%, China down 5.5%, Taiwan down 3.3%, India down 4.3%, Australia down 1.3%, Singapore down 0.8% and South Korea off 2%.

Equities on the move overnight included Accenture (NYSE:ACN), which rallied after reporting strong earnings and raising full-year guidance. Also, Andersons Inc. (Nasdaq:ANDE) shot up some 15% in after-hours trading as the company also raised yearly guidance. Palm Inc. (Nasdaq:PALM) was off 7% overnight as earnings missed the forecast. AK Steel Holding Corp. (NYSE:AKS) shot up about 3% as . . .

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