U.S. stock futures are higher in pre-market trading for Thursday, June 08. The Dow Futures are trading at 21,188.50 for up with +0.10% percent or +20.50 point. The S&P 500 Futures are trading at 2,434.75 for up with +0.11% percent or +2.75 point. The Nasdaq Futures are trading at 5,893.25 for up with +0.23% percent or +13.50 point.

In overnight trading in the Eastern Hemisphere,Japan’s Nikkei 225 are trading at 19,909.26 with  a loss of –0.38% percent or  –75.36 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng are trading at 26,063.06 for up with  +0.34% percent or  +88.90 point. China’s Shanghai Composite are trading at 3,150.33 for up with +0.32% percent or +10.01 point. India’s S&P BSE Sensex are trading at 31,213.36 with a loss of  –0.19% percent or –57.92 point. In Europe, the FTSE 100 are trading at 7,468.05 with a loss of –0.14% percent or –10.57 point. Germany’s DAX are trading at 12,708.44 for up with +0.28% percent or +35.95 point. France’s CAC 40 are trading at 5,272.98 for up with +0.14% percent or +7.45 point. The Stoxx Europe 600 are trading at 389.59  for up with +0.11% percent or +0.41 point.

Thursday’s Factors and Events

Stocks showed a lack of direction over the course of the trading session on Thursday but managed to end the day modestly higher. The higher close on the day came on the heels of the pullback seen over the two previous sessions.

The major averages closed in positive territory but still off the record highs set last Friday. The Dow rose 37.46 points or 0.2 percent to 21,173.69, the Nasdaq climbed 22.32 points or 0.4 percent to 6,297.38 and the S&P 500 edged up 3.81 points or 0.2 percent to 2,433.14.

Traders seemed reluctant to make more significant moves ahead of several potentially market-moving events on both sides of the Atlantic on Thursday.

Former FBI Director James Comey’s testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee is likely to be in the spotlight tomorrow.

Wednesday’s Activity

U.S. market indexes were higher Wednesday. For the day the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 21,173.69  for up with  +0.18% percent or +37.46 point. The S&P 500 closed  at 2,433.14  for up with  +0.16% percent or +3.81 point. The Nasdaq Composite closed at 6,297.38 for up with +0.36%  percent or +22.32 point.

Other leading market index closes included the small-cap Russell 2000 Index closed at 1,396.67 for up with  +0.13% percent or +1.78 point; the S&P 600 Small-Cap Index closed at 846.20 for up with  +0.15% percent or +1.24 point; the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index closed at 1,736.84 with a loss of –0.01% percent or –0.21 point; the S&P 100 Index closed at 1,073.47 for up with   +0.17% percent or  +1.85 point; the Russell 3000 Index closed at 1,439.79 for up with  +0.14% percent or  +1.97 point; the Russell 1000 Index closed at 1,347.98 for up with  +0.14% percent or 1.86 point; and the Dow Jones U.S. Select Dividend Index closed at 21,173.69 for up with  +0.18% percent or +37.46 point.