U.S. stock futures rose, indicating the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index may extend the biggest three-day advance in a month, amid mounting speculation policy makers will contain Europe’s debt crisis.
Futures on the VIX show investors expect the Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index to remain at least 50 percent above its historical average of 20.5 through May.
Stocks rallied yesterday after Greece made progress in meeting requirements for more international aid and Germany vowed continue to support for the country. Equities trimmed gains in the final hour after the Financial Times reported that some euro-area countries are demanding that private creditors take bigger writedowns on their Greek bond holdings.
European Commission President Jose Barroso today called for faster creation of a rescue fund and said he will press ahead with common bonds for the euro area, a proposal Germany opposes. Experts from the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund will return to Athens tomorrow to review the Greek government’s budget-cut plans, the commission said.
Stock futures briefly extended gains after a report showed orders for U.S. capital goods climbed in August by the most in three months, a sign business investment continues to support the recovery. Bookings for goods like computers and communications gear, excluding military hardware and aircraft, climbed 1.1 percent, the most since May, the Commerce Department report showed. Demand for total durable goods dropped 0.1 percent, less than forecast.