Futures are 1 point firmer after fresh record highs on Wall St overnight.
US stocks closed slightly ahead on the back of gains in the Financial, tech and materials sectors.
SoftBank's $32-billion deal to buy British chip designer ARM Holdings lifted U.S. chip stocks, and the technology sector led the way higher on the S&P 500.
Bank of America's earnings report continued the momentum for U.S. banks, rising 3.3 percent to $14.11.
The decline in earnings of S&P 500 components is now expected to slow to 4.5 percent in the second quarter,
and more companies are expected to beat estimates.
Third-quarter earnings are expected to turn positive, rising 1.5 percent, with fourth-quarter profit up a more robust 9.1 percent.
"There seems to be a growing consensus that this is the trough of earnings for the S&P 500," said Bucky Hellwig, senior vice president at BB&T Wealth Management in Birmingham, Alabama. "If indeed it is, that can build some momentum on a fundamental basis going into the third and the fourth quarter.” 1
S&P +.25%
Nasdaq .5%
Gold prices ended the U.S. day session near unchanged in subdued trading Monday, amid a lack of major, markets-moving news. Some slight selling pressure in overnight gave way to short covering in the futures market and bargain hunting in the cash market when the U.S. day session began. However, gains in safe-haven gold were limited as rallying world stock markets suggest traders and investors do not have a lot of worry on their marketplace radar screens. 2
Gold $1328
HUI +.75%
AUD Gold $1751
