U.S. stock futures are set for a higher opening on Wednesday as investors await data on the manufacturing and housing industries. Higher futures are reflective of the gains in European markets, which rose after upbeat reports on manufacturing activity in both Britain and the 16 countries that share the euro currency. Economists expect manufacturing activity in the U.S. to have declined in June for the 17th straight month, but at the slowest pace since last August. Despite falling sharply Tuesday on a disappointing report on consumer confidence, stocks ended the April to June period with significant gains. The benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 index had its best quarter in a decade. Ahead of the market's open, Dow Jones industrial average futures are up 40, or 0.5 percent, to 8,434. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures are up 5.10, or 0.6 percent, to 920.60, and Nasdaq 100 index futures are up 7.50, or 0.5 percent, to 1,483.75.
