U.S. stocks were poised to open higher again Monday for a fourth-consecutive session amid light pre-Christmas trading and as both oil futures and the Russian Ruble regained some ground.
In economic data due Monday, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index set for 8:30 a.m. ET is expected to have gained to 0.23 in November from 0.14 in October. At 10 a.m., November existing-home sales data are expected to show a slight drop to 5.2 million in November from 5.26 million in October, within the consensus range from 4.97 million to 5.35 million.
Achillon Pharmaceutical (ACHN) shares jumped 12% in recent pre-market trade after saying interim results from two studies supported its hepatitis C treatment. At the other end of the spectrum, Gilead (GILD) shares fell 13% pre-market after Express Scripts (ESRX) said it will cover AbbVie's (ABBV) newly approved C hepatitis treatment after lining up a cheaper price from them, and will, in most cases, no longer cover Gilead Sciences. ABBV was up 6%.