(By Balachander) U.S stock-index futures trimmed gains amid concerns on whether Spain will request a bailout from its eurozone partners.
Mini Dow Industrial Average futures rose 38 points to 13,475. The Nasdaq futures added 11.75 points to 2,800. Standard and Poor's 500 futures gained 6.80 points to 1,443.70.
Spain's Economy Minister Luis De Guindos reportedly indicated that the country is still analyzing on whether to seek a bailout. However, a Spanish news agency reported that Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has rejected the bailout rumors. In an address to regional leaders of his party, Rajoy spoke that the country would not seek a bailout this weekend, Europa Press reported.
There are no major U.S. economic data scheduled to be released for the day.
Automakers are due to report their monthly U.S. sales results for September, with expectations of flat sales of 14.5 million last month.
The key economic data likely to be in focus in the coming week are indicators of labor market, including ADP's private sector employment report, the weekly jobless claims data and Labor Department's non-farm payrolls data.
On Monday, U.S. stocks ended the first day of the fourth quarter on a mixed note, trimming earlier gains, after remarks by the Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke. Stocks rose in early session after a data showed that activity in the U.S. manufacturing sector unexpectedly expanded last month.
Hot Stocks Of The Day: EXPR, WPP, PETM, JNPR, PVH, MOS, FNP
In corporate news, Express Inc. (NYSE: EXPR) tumbled 16.7 percent in premarket after the apparel retailer reduced its third-quarter earnings forecast, citing an abrupt change in traffic and higher promotional activity.
Wausau Paper Corp. (NYSE: WPP) cut its earnings outlook for the year, citing lower profitability at its Brainerd Minnesota facility and weakening demand in its economically sensitive industrial product categories. Shares fell 2.29 percent in premarket.
PetSmart Inc. (NASDAQ: PETM) rose 3.09 percent in premarket. The pet retailer will replace Sunoco Inc. (SUN) in the S&P 500 after the close of trading on Thursday, October 4.
Juniper Networks Inc. (NYSE: JNPR) may be in focus after the networking equipment company disclosed plans to reduce about 500 jobs, or roughly 5 percent of its workforce, as part of a move to cut costs.
PVH Corp. (NYSE: PVH) gained 1.79 percent in premarket after the apparel company boosted its third-quarter and 2012 earnings outlook, citing continued strong performance in the Tommy Hilfiger business, particularly in North America, and the Calvin Klein business.
Mosaic Co. (NYSE: MOS) shed 1.65 percent in premarket after the company posted a 22 percent drop in quarterly earnings as lower volumes and prices in phosphates resulted in a 19.4 percent decline in sales.
Fifth & Pacific Companies Inc. (NYSE: FNP) dropped 12.37 percent in premarket after the designer of fashion brands, including Kate Spade and Lucky Brand, reduced its EBITDA guidance for 2012 citing lower sales of its Juicy Couture brand.
Global Markets:
European markets rose, with Germany's DAX up 0.50 percent to trade at 7,363.72. France's CAC40 gained 0.32 percent to trade at 3,445.89. U.K.'s FTSE 100 rose 0.27 percent to trade at 5,835.89.
Among Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.12 percent to end at 8,786.05. China's Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index and India's BSE Sensex were closed for public holidays.
Commodity & Currency Scan:
Ahead of the opening bell, crude oil futures advanced 0.39 percent to $92.84 per barrel. Gold futures inched up 0.03 percent to $1,783.8 per ounce.
In the currency market, the euro added 0.28 percent against the U.S. dollar to 1.2926. The British pound rose 0.09 percent against the greenback to 1.6145, and the dollar added 0.17 percent against the Japanese yen to 78.1200.