Wall Street rises slowly after string of losses

New York - A declining US trade deficit and upbeat German data set the S&P 500 for a rebound on Tuesday after three days of losses.

The latest evidence of strengthening economic fundamentals in the United States came in the form of the smallest trade deficit in four years in November, as exports hit a record high and weak oil prices restrained import growth.

German unemployment unexpectedly fell in December on a seasonally-adjusted basis, bolstering hopes that domestic consumption could lift growth in Europe's biggest economy.

"Europe's data has not been bad. It gives optimism," said Kim Forrest, senior equity research analyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group in Pittsburgh.

She said investors awaited Friday's jobs report and the start of the corporate earnings season for trading incentives.

Financial hubs

S&P 500 futures rose 6 points and were above fair value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures rose 61 points and Nasdaq 100 futures added 16 points.

Economic activity may be hurt by a polar vortex - strong upper-level winds in the Northern hemisphere that normally hover over the polar region but have been pushed south - that was enveloping the US east coast. The frigid air comes less than a week after the year's first snowstorm blanketed the region, including financial hubs New York and Boston.

Intel CEO Brian Krzanich showed off wearable computing devices on Monday, including ear buds that monitor the wearer's heart rate and a smart headset, as the world's largest chipmaker tries to get back on track after missing out on smartphones. Intel shares ticked up 0.3% in premarket trading.

Morgan Stanley cut its rating on Netflix shares to "underweight." Netflix fell 2.8% in premarket trading.