UPDATED 7:03 am ET

STOCKS – European stocks advanced, snapping a four-day decline, amid increased mergers-and-acquisitions activity, and as investors awaited data to assess the health of the U.S. economy. U.S. index futures were little changed, while Asian shares rose.

BONDS – The extra yield on Treasury two-year notes over the Federal Reserve’s benchmark interest rate was at the widest since September before a report projected to show a gauge of U.S. inflation accelerated in May.

COMMODITIES – Copper pared a climb to a four-week high in London as supplies of the metal that can be removed from warehouses expanded amid speculation demand is slowing.

CURRENCIES – The pound approached the highest in more than five years versus the dollar as the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee introduced measures to cool the housing market.

ECONOMIC DATA – US Unemployment Claims due at 8:30, Natural Gas Storage at 10:30 and NZD Trade Balance at 18:45 ET.