U.S. stock futures were in tight range Friday after a strong week as investors pause after a big three-day rally and prepare for upcoming earnings season.
Bank of America Corp. hired two Fidelity Investments executive vice presidents Rich Linton and Steve Ulian to expand its $500 billion retirement-services business. Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:BAC, $14.86, +$0.15, 1.02%) fell 0.27 percent to $14.82 on Friday morning pre-market trading session, while on Thursday, shares of Bank of America rose 1.02 percent, closed on $14.86 and BofA dropped 3.71 percent in the past one month trading.
Citigroup Inc. said Friday that it has has hired Tony Osmond from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. as head of its Australia and New Zealand investment banking business in a move aimed at boosting fees from arranging deals. Mr Osmond was the managing director of Goldman’s investment banking division in Australia where he had worked since 2003. Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C, $3.97, +$0.07, 1.79%) dropped 0.25 percent to $3.96 on Friday morning pre-market trading session, even on Thursday, Citigroup shares jumped 1.79 percent, closed on $3.97.
JP Morgan analyst Michael Gambardella said Wednesday he was lowering his second-quarter earnings per share estimate for Alcoa Inc. due to lower-than-expected aluminum prices. Alcoa Inc. (NYSE:AA, $10.72, +$0.17, 1.61%) rose 0.37 percent to $10.76 on Friday morning pre-market trading session, even on Thursday, shares of Alcoa climbed 1.61 percent, closed on $10.72.
Google on Friday said China has renewed the license it needs to continue operating a website in China. Google said last week that it would stop automatically rerouting users to its uncensored Hong Kong-based search page. Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG, $456.56, +$6.36, 1.41%) jumped 3.84 percent to $474.09 on Friday morning pre-market trading session, even on Thursday, Google shares were up 1.41 percent, closed on $456.56 and Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ:BIDU, $72.43, +$0.06, 0.08%) fell 5.07 percent to $68.76 on Friday morning pre-market trading session, while on Thursday, shares of Baidu rose 0.08 percent, closed on $72.43.
Air Products & Chemicals Inc. on Thursday increased its offer for Airgas Inc. to $63.50 a share, or $5.3 billion in cash from $5 billion. Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD, $68.78, +$1.04, 1.54%) jumped 0.17 percent to $68.90 on Friday morning pre-market trading session, even on Thursday, Air Products & Chemicals shares were up 1.54 percent, closed on $68.78 and Airgas, Inc. (NYSE:ARG, $63.87, +$0.37, 0.58%) rose 0.67 percent to $64.30 on Friday morning pre-market trading session, even on Thursday, shares of Airgas climbed 0.58 percent, closed on $63.87.