LOW Lowes Companies Inc

By Barbara Kollmeyer and Ellie Ismailidou, MarketWatch

Dollar hits fresh 7-month high against the euro

U.S. stock futures rose on Tuesday, pointing to a strong open for Wall Street, after the U.S. consumer-price index posted its first increase in October in three months.

The CPI rose by a seasonally adjusted 0.2% last month (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/consumer-price-index-rises-in-october-for-first-time-in-3-months-2015-11-17), a reading that fell within economists' expectations, keeping a December interest-rate hike by the Federal Reserve on the table. Core prices, which exclude energy and food, rose 1.9% year-over-year.

Financial results from Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which were better than expected and a house-price index expected later on Tuesday could help set the tone for markets. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 89 points, or 0.5%, to 17,510, while those for the S&P 500 index tacked on 9 points, or 0.4%, to 2,057. Futures for the Nasdaq-100 index were up 19.25 points, or 0.4%, at 4,579.

Crude for December delivery was off 0.17% on Tuesday, recovering from an earlier 1% drop. Higher oil prices helped drive a 1% gain across the board for Wall Street on Monday (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stocks-analysts-see-volatile-day-after-paris-attacks-2015-11-16). While investors adopted the view that the Paris terrorist attacks wouldn't have a lasting effect on stocks, French airstrikes in Syria increased concerns about Middle East supply disruption, boosting oil.

The French air force carried out a second straight day of raids (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/france-drops-more-bombs-on-islamic-state-targets-in-syria-2015-11-17) against Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa in northern Syria early Tuesday. But analysts weren't sure how long Wall Street and other global stocks could hang onto a boost from higher oil prices, especially as gains were fading.

"With key inventory data ahead and suspicions of oversupply, momentum could be handed back to bears following 2-month lows [that] were triggered last week," said Jonathan Sudaria, night dealer at London Capital Group, in a note.

Read: Why stocks are taking their cues from crude-oil prices (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-stocks-are-taking-their-cues-from-crude-oil-prices-2015-11-16)

Economic data: Industrial production and capacity utilization data for October are coming at 9:15 a.m. Eastern. At 10 a.m. Eastern, the National Association of Home Builders is due to release its November housing market index.

Dallas Federal Reserve President Rob Kaplan will give his first major speech since taking the Fed role, on economic conditions and Fed policy at the University of Houston at noon Eastern. At 1:15 p.m. Eastern, Fed Gov. Jerome Powell will speak at the Clearing House annual conference in New York. Fed Gov. Daniel Tarullo will speak at a Brookings Institution conference at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

Stocks to watch: Wal-Mart Stores Inc.(WMT) shares climbed 2.3% premarket after the general retailer's fiscal third-quarter profit declined less than expected (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/wal-marts-stock-surges-after-profit-beats-expectations-2015-11-17), helping offset a slight miss in revenue of $117.41 billion.

Home Depot Inc.(HD) shares rose almost 3% premarket after the D.I.Y. retailer backed the high-end of its previous forecast for the year (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/home-depot-reports-solid-sales-growth-2015-11-17-6485274).

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW) shares gained nearly 3% ahead of its third-quarter earnings release expected Wednesday before the opening bell.

Results from apparel and accessories retailer TJX Cos. (TJX) were slated for release, as well.

Regulatory filings revealed several big hedge-fund managers' positions in stocks in the third quarter. David Einhorn (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/hedge-fund-titan-einhorn-boosts-apple-stake-slashes-sunedison-2015-11-16) boosted his stake in Apple Inc.(AAPL), General Motors Inc.(GM) and Michael Kors Holdings Ltd.(KORS). He cut holdings of SunEdison Inc.(SUNE) and Micron Technology Inc.(MU).

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/icahn-reports-stakes-in-paypal-freeport-aig-2015-11-16) revealed stakes in PayPal Holdings Inc.(PYPL) and Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX).

Other markets: Asian stocks closed mostly higher, though the Shanghai Composite Index gave up gains by the finish and ended flat. European stocks (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/european-stocks-leap-toward-best-session-in-nearly-a-month-2015-11-17) were set for the best session in weeks as defense and energy shares climbed.

The dollar (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dollar-hits-fresh-7-month-high-against-the-euro-2015-11-17) hit a fresh seven-month high against the euro (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dollar-hits-fresh-7-month-high-against-the-euro-2015-11-17) as traders bet Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris may push the European Central Bank to loosen up on monetary policy when it meets Dec. 3, which would open up the euro to selling pressure. Read: Paris attacks may hit eurozone economy (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/paris-attack-may-hit-eurozone-economy-ecbs-praet-2015-11-17)

Gold prices were moderately lower.

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 17, 2015 09:02 ET (14:02 GMT)

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