Morning News

• Futures are pointing to a slightly lower open this morning.

• Weekly jobless claims will be released at 8:30 this morning.

• August Philly Fed Survey will be released at noon today.

• Energy Dept. will release natural gas inventories at 10:30 this morning.

• European markets are pretty flat so far today. In Tokyo the Nikkei 225 ended the trading day a bit lower.

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average, and the S&P 500 ended yesterday's trading at three month highs.

• Hewlett Packard profit climbs to $1.38 billion. The company also plans a $6 billion stock buyback, and lifts forward guidance.

• Jury entering second day of deliberations in Vioxx trial in New Orleans.

• In golf the PGA Championship gets under way at Medinah CC in Illinois.

• Crude oil continues to pull back. The current price is $70.79 per barrel.

• Wholesale gasoline down to $1.94 per gallon.

• Natural gas is $6.73 per unit.

• Gold pretty flat this morning at $639.00 per ounce.

Budd Foxx