US Stock Futures Mixed Ahead Of Bernanke Speech

US stock futures are mixed this morning, as investors are awaiting a speech by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 5 points to 13,438.00 and S&P 500 index futures rose 1 point to 1,468.20. Nasdaq 100 futures dropped 10.75 points to 2,733.00.

US stocks closed mostly higher on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 0.13% to 13,488.43, the S&P 500 index falling 0.07 points to 1,472.05 and the Nasdaq 100 index gaining 0.12% to 3,125.63.

Ben Bernanke will deliver a speech on monetary policy and the country's economy at the University of Michigan at 4 p.m. ET. Ahead of Bernanke's speech, San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President John C. Williams and Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Dennis Lockhart will also deliver speeches.

PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG) is projected to report its Q4 earnings at $1.53 per share on revenue of $3.59 billion. Material Sciences (NASDAQ: MASC) is expected to report its Q3 earnings at $0.21 per share on revenue of $34.70 million.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (NASDAQ: RMCF) is estimated to post its Q3 earnings at $0.16 per share on revenue of $9.41 million. Majesco Entertainment Co (NASDAQ: COOL) is expected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.02 per share on revenue of $23.97 million.

Vera Bradley (NASDAQ: VRA) announced the resignation of its Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Jeffrey A. Blade.

Hostess Brands announced its plans to sell most of its bread business to Flowers Foods (NYSE: FLO) for $390 million.

European markets were higher today. The STOXX Europe 600 Index rose 0.16%, London's FTSE 100 Index gained 0.15%, German DAX 30 Index surged 0.78% and French CAC 40 Index rose 0.53%.

Asian markets ended higher, with China's Shanghai Composite jumping 3.06% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 Index gaining 0.25%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 0.64% and India's Sensex surged 1.23%.

Crude oil for delivery in February gained $0.63 to trade at $94.19 a barrel.

The ICE dollar index (DXY) declined to 0.12% to trade at 79.45, down from 79.566 in North America late on Friday.

The US dollar fell 0.02% versus the Japanese yen to trade at 89.2950. The euro gained 0.08% against the dollar to $1.3373, versus $1.3341.