US STOCKS-Futures rise on vaccine bets; Boeing jumps

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* Futures up: Dow 0.4%, S&P 0.3%, Nasdaq 0.1%

By Sruthi Shankar and Shivani Kumaresan
Nov 18 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures rose on
Wednesday as fresh signs of a COVID-19 vaccine fueled bets of
faster economic revival next year, while Boeing surged after it
won U.S. approval to resume flights of its 737 MAX jet.
The planemaker's shares BA.N jumped about 6% in early
trading after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration chief
Steve Dickson signed an order to allow the best-selling plane to
resume flights following two fatal crashes that led to Boeing's
biggest crisis in decades. Meanwhile, Pfizer Inc PFE.N said it would apply for
emergency U.S. authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine within days
and disclosed final results from a late-stage trial that showed
it was 95% effective. The company's shares rose 3%. The announcement comes after Moderna Inc MRNA.O on Monday
released preliminary data for its COVID-19 vaccine, showing
similar effectiveness.
At 07:05 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis 1YMcv1 gained 0.45%, S&P 500
E-minis EScv1 rose 0.3% and Nasdaq 100 E-minis NQcv1 were up
0.1%.
"Whilst it doesn't mean much for today (unlike last Monday),
it does underscore the fact that we are heading into a much
brighter 2021 and whilst temporary lockdowns need to be endured,
the back-to-normal trade is still 'on'," said Neil Wilson, chief
market analyst at Markets.com, referring to the muted market
reaction to Pfizer's update.
The benchmark S&P 500 .SPX and the blue-chip Dow .DJI
retreated from all-time highs on Tuesday as glum U.S. retail
sales data, as well as the specter of fresh restrictions
dampened demand for risky assets.
The number of reported global daily deaths from the
coronavirus stood at its highest ever on Tuesday, as the United
States entered winter. Among other stocks, Target Corp TGT.N rose 2.4% after the
retailer beat expectations for quarterly profit and sales,
helped by its quick delivery services. Beyond Meat Inc BYND.O gained 1.3% after the faux meat
maker launched plant-based minced pork in China.