Futures flat in light trading before Fed testimony
Stock futures flat ahead of testimony from Fed Chairman Bernanke on US monetary policy
A sign for Wall St. is shown outside the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, July 15, 2013 in New York. World stock markets wavered between gains and losses Wednesday July 17, 2013 as investors remained cautious ahead of testimony from U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
NEW YORK (AP) -- Stock futures are essentially flat in very light trading ahead of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's appearance before lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Dow Jones industrial futures are up a point to 15,392. S&P futures have gained 0.8 points to 1,672. Nasdaq futures are up 5.25 to 3,076.
The financial sector continued its winning streak Wednesday as Bank of America, like Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase before it, breezed past Wall Street expectations for the quarter.
The huge profits being put up by banks are part of the reason there is so much focus on the semi-annual testimony on monetary policy from Bernanke later Wednesday.
The U.S. Federal Reserve may begin pulling back this year on the aggressive stimulus program that has flooded global markets with cash.
