US stock futures slightly declined today and remained unchanged after mixed economic data. Reports on employment change, trade balance and initial job claims were issued today. Employment for month of June has gained more than predictions while trade balance raised its deficit. Initial job claims beat predictions adding 5000 less claims for the last week of June.
S&P 500, Nasdaq and Dow Jones slipped with no more than 0.2% at 8:33 EDT in New York. The S&P 500 has slipped 3.3% since May 21, the day before Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said the central bank may taper bond purchases if the U.S. economy improves in line with forecasts.
U.S. stock markets are closed tomorrow due to the Independence Day holiday and will close earlier today at 1 p.m. local time.
Slowing staff reductions are a sign that companies are keeping employment steady even as economic growth is not at its best. Greater demand in the second half of the year, boosted by consumer purchases such as automobiles, could persuade employers to add more staff as the Federal Reserve looks for signs whether labor market progress is enough to reduce its monthly stimulus.
The widening of the trade gap could force analysts to lower their estimates of second-quarter U.S. growth. Imports rose 1.9% to $232.1 billion, the highest since the record level of $234.3 billion set in March 2012. U.S. exports declined 0.3% to $187.1 billion, among the increases were categories such as autos and auto parts and capital goods more than offset by a decline in consumer goods, food, feeds and beverages and industrial materials. The slight decline is a consequence of slow growth in the rest of world, particularly in countrys major trading partner -China.
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