By Anora Mahmudova and Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch

ADP report shows private sector added 212,000 jobs in February

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock futures were lower on Wednesday and pointed to another day in the red as a report from Automated Data Processing Inc. showed the private sector added 212,000 jobs in February.

The headline number came in below expectations; however, the January number was revised sharply upwards. Market reaction to the data was muted.

Investors watch the ADP report to get a feel for the official jobs report due on Friday, which might give more clarity about the Federal Reserve's resolve to hike interest rates this year.

The Nasdaq (RIXF) looked set to slip further below the psychologically important 5,000 level reached on Monday, with Nasdaq 100 futures (NDH5) off 10 points, or 0.2%, to 4,442.00. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJH5) lost 44 points, or 0.2%, to 18,142, while those for the S&P 500 index (SPH5) gave up 5.90 points, or 0.3%, to 2,098.90.

The losses came after a day in the red on Tuesday (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stocks-futures-retreat-after-nasdaq-breaks-above-5000-2015-03-03), when disappointing monthly car sales dampened investors' spirit.

Data: Private-sector employment gains continued in February but at a slower pace than in the prior month. ADP reported employers added 212,000 jobs last month (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/private-sector-adds-212000-jobs-in-february-adp-2015-03-04-8912123), below January's revised gain of 250,000.

"This Friday's release has gained extra significance as it is the first such figure since Fed Chair [Janet] Yellen highlighted the key role job growth will play in any interest rate hike decision," Connor Campbell, financial analyst at Spreadex, said in a note Wednesday.

The dollar inched lower against yen after weak ADP jobs report.

At 10 a.m. Eastern, the ISM nonmanufacturing data for February will be released. Economists polled by MarketWatch expect a slight pullback to 55.9%, from 56.7% in January.

Fed speakers: Chicago Federal Reserve President Charles Evans, who is a voting member this year, will speak on the economic outlook and monetary policy to the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Rotary Club in Lake Forest, Ill. at 9 a.m. Eastern.

Kansas City Fed President Esther George, who is not a voting member of the Fed this year, will give a speech on the economy in Kansas City at 1 p.m. Eastern.

Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher, also not a voting member, will reflect on 10 years at the Fed in El Paso, Texas at 7 p.m. Eastern.

The Fed's beige book is schedule at 2 p.m.

Earnings: Clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co.(ANF) dropped 6.4% premarket after reporting fourth-quarter sales below expectations.

Pet-supplies company PetSmart Inc. (PETM) is forecast to post fourth-quarter earnings of $1.36 a share. The stock was up 1.3% ahead of the report.

Movers and shakers: Warren Buffett was in the spotlight again after news that Berkshire Hathaway Inc.(BRK/A) plans a debut euro-bond sale (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/warren-buffetts-berkshire-hathaway-plans-debut-euro-bond-sale-2015-03-04), joining the craze for European bonds amid record low borrowing cost. Last week, Coca-Cola Co. (KO) sold EUR8.5 billion ($9.45 billion) worth of European bonds (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/coca-cola-sells-biggest-ever-us-offer-of-euro-bonds-2015-02-26), the largest euro-denominated bond from an American firm on record and the second-largest by any company in the currency.

Shares of Smith & Wesson Holding Corp.(SWB) surged 11% ahead of the bell after earnings from the firearms manufacturer topped Wall Street estimates (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/smith-wesson-shares-rally-on-earnings-beat-outlook-2015-03-03).

Bob Evans Farms Inc.(BOBE) dived 22% after the restaurant chain late Tuesday reported earnings below expectations (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bob-evans-reports-earnings-miss-2015-03-03) and said it would not pursue a sale or spinoff of BEF Foods. Janney Wednesday morning downgraded the company to neutral from buy.

Shares of Veeva Systems Inc.(VEEV) slumped 12% in premarket trade after the cloud-software company late Tuesday reported fourth-quarter earnings.

U.S. listed shares of Novogen Ltd.(NVGN) rocketed 48% premarket after the Australian biotech said studies show one of its drugs can kill brain-cancer cells.

TiVo Inc.(TIVO) rallied 6.7% after reporting a surge in surge in fourth-quarter profit late Tuesday.

Read about more of the day's notable movers here (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/abercrombie-petsmart-hr-block-earnings-in-focus-2015-03-04).

Other markets: European stock markets struggled for direction after a mixed bag of data, while most Asian markets closed in the red (http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid). Oil futures climbed (http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid) and metals were mostly lower (http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid).

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