U.S. stock futures higher in pre-market trading for,Dec 19.The Nasdaq Futures is trading at 8,620.25  with a loss of -0.01%  percent or -0.50 point.The Dow Futures is trading at28,301.50  up with +0.07% percent or +20.50 point.The S&P 500 Futures is trading at 3,200.12 up with +0.03% percent or +0.87 point.

In overnight trading in the Eastern Hemisphere,In other parts of world, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is trading at 23,864.85 with a loss of –0.29% percent or -69.58 point. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is trading at 27,767.79  with a loss of –0.42% percent or –116.42 point. China’s Shanghai Composite is trading at 3,017.07 up with +0.00071% percent or +0.021  point. India’s BSE Sensex is trading at 41,595.37 up with +0.089% percent or +36.80 point at 12:15 PM..Germany’s DAX is trading at 13,188.68  with a loss of –0.25% percent or –33.48 point. France’s CAC 40 is trading at 5,961.35  up with +0.029% percent or +1.75 point. The Stoxx Europe 600 is trading at 414.63  up with +0.06% percent or +0.24 point.

Thursday’s Factors and Events

Investors so far remain largely unfazed by impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump led by House Democrats. The House is widely expected to vote in favor of two articles of impeachment against the president late Wednesday, setting the stage for a trial in the Republican-controlled Senate, which is viewed as likely to acquit Trump.

Wednesday Activity

Other leading market index closes included the small-cap Russell 2000 Index closed at 1,661.73 up with +0.25%  percent or +4.17 point; the S&P 600 Small-Cap Index closed at 1,019.53  up with +0.38% percent or +3.81 point; the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index closed at 2,046.15 up with +0.052% percent or +1.06   point; the S&P 100 Index closed at 1,423.08  with  a loss of –0.14% percent or -2.06 point; the Russell 3000 Index closed at 1,870.29  with a loss of –0.010% percent or ?0.19 point; the Russell 1000 Index closed at 1,762.56 with a loss of –0.028% or -0.50 point.