Stock Futures Higher on Super-Charged Thursday, ECB Decision Imminent

London (June 8)  The wait is over. The potentially market-moving Thursday is here. Investors have been patiently waiting this week for developments in the Trump-Russia scandal, the U.K. election, and a eurozone monetary policy decision.

S&P 500 futures were up 0.17%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gained 0.18%, and Nasdaq futures rose 0.26%.

Former FBI director James Comey detailed his numerous meetings with President Trump since January in his pre-released opening statement  on Wednesday afternoon before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Comey said he had not told Trump that he would cease investigations into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn despite Trump's request. Comey also said that Trump had said, "I need loyalty. I expect loyalty." Comey based his testimony on his recollections and a series of memos composed after several meetings.

Following this opening statement on Thursday, Comey will answer questions from the Senate Intelligence Committee. Trump fired Comey in May while the FBI was investigating the Trump transition team's ties to Russia. News reports indicated that Trump had asked Comey for his loyalty and requested he stop investigating Flynn.

Also on Thursday, U.K. citizens will head to the polls as the country continues to mourn terrorist attacks in Manchester and London in the past few weeks. Prime Minister Theresa May holds the lead in the polls over Labor's Jeremy Corbyn. In the wake of the London attack over the weekend, May has hardened her position against extremism, arguing that she would alter human rights laws if needed to protect the British people. The election results will likely not be fully tabulated until Friday morning in London.

Source: TheStreet