DJIA futures down 33 points (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - New York, 16 Jul - US futures were steady ahead of more big bank earnings and retail sales data that could help shine light on the health of the US consumer.

Wall Street ended higher yesterday as the rally rolls on with the Dow rising 0.5% to set its 20th record close this year.

The S&P 500 was up 0.3% while the Nasdaq rose 0.4%.

Bets are rising the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in September in the wake of recent encouraging inflation and jobs data.

Yesterday Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell declined to set a timeframe for rate cuts but did say data on pricing pressures between April and June 'do add somewhat to confidence' that inflation will ease back to the Fed's target of 2%.

Retail sales, which have of late pointed to the reliance of the US consumer, are expected to show today that sales in June fell 0.3%.

On the earnings front, Bank of America's second-quarter profits dropped but a good showing for net interest income sent its shares higher in premarket trading. Morgan Stanley shares were also higher after its profits rose thanks to investment banking.

Away from the earnings, shares in Tinder jumped 8% premarket after a report saying hedge fund Starboard Value had built a big stake in its online dating unit Match Group.

Futures on the Dow Jones were down 33.00 points, or 0.08%, S&P 500 futures were up 7.00 points, or 0.12%, while futures on the Nasdaq were 41.00 points, or 0.20%, higher.

AAA-Sje

(RADIOCOR) 16-07-24 14:05:03 (0423) 5 NNNN