U.S. equity index futures are pointing to a positive open after U.K. manufacturing data rose unexpectedly.
S&P 500 futures are up 3.25 points, or 0.24 percent, to 1352.50 as of this writing. The Nasdaq 100 future is higher by 10.25 points, or 0.39 percent, to 2616.
European indexes are positive as well, with the German DAX gaining 1.44 percent and the U.K. FTSE 100 up 0.87 percent. Despite the strength in equities, the euro/dollar remains unchanged at 1.2320 after trading as high as 1.2345 earlier this morning.
Asian indexes fell after China imports compounded slowdown fears within the region. Hong Kong's Hang Seng is off 0.16 percent, and Japan's Nikkei 225 is lower by 0.44 percent.
Copper prices dropped for a second day as the front-month contract declined by 0.07 percent to 3.429. Spot gold futures are higher by 4.50 points, or 0.28 percent, to 1593.60 after trading as low as 1582.60 earllier today.
Crude oil futures are well off their lows of 84.63 a contract to 85.83, still down 0.2 percent.
In company-specific news, shares of Alcoa are slightly higher after the company reported better-t than-expected quarterly results after the bell yesterday.
Patriot Coal filed for bankruptcy protection last night, tanking shares in extended-hours trading. Apple is nearly $4 higher in the pre-market, last trading at $617.75.
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