Stocks Point Higher as Market Approaches New Year

NEW YORK  – Stocks are pointed to early gains as the market
heads into the last few days of trading before the new year.

The market is expected to be buoyed by a spate of positive
economic news in recent weeks, though economic data released
Tuesday showed that consumers are still fretting about high
unemployment.

Overseas markets in China and Germany were also performing well.

Ahead of the opening bell on Wednesday, the Dow Jones industrial
average futures are up 12 points, or 0.1 percent, to 11,521. S&P
500 futures are up 1.3, or 0.1 percent, to 1,255. Nasdaq composite
futures are up 5.5, or 0.2 percent, to 2,231.

Traders will closely watch the U.S. Treasury’s auction of $29
billion in 7-year notes on Wednesday, following a disappointing
sale of Treasury notes on Tuesday that sent bond prices lower.