Morning Briefing: 10 Things You Should Know

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- U.S. stock futures were suggesting Wall Street would open higher Wednesday despite a stalemate in U.S. budget talks.

European shares were rising while Asian stocks ended Wednesday's session with gains. Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 0.4% to 9,468.84 and the Shanghai Composite Index jumped 2.9% to 2,031.91 on hopes for more stimulus measures.

The economic calendar in the U.S. Wednesday includes ADP's employment report for November at 8:15 a.m. EST, and factory orders and ISM's November non-manufacturing index, both at 10 a.m.

U.S. stocks on Tuesday slumped as eurozone troubles continued to fester and U.S. "fiscal cliff" talks were at a standstill.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 14 points, or 0.11%, to close at 12,952.

Netflix (NFLX) and Walt Disney (DIS) agreed on Tuesday to a movie-licensing deal.

The agreement makes Netflix the exclusive subscription television service for first-run Disney Studios' animated and live-action feature films in the U.S.

Pandora Media (P) said third-quarter earnings more than tripled to $2 million as revenue rose 60% to $120 million but the Internet radio company on Tuesday issued a downbeat forecast for the fourth quarter.

Chipmaker Altera said Tuesday it expects fourth-quarter sales to fall 8% to 10% from third-quarter sales of $495 million; it previously forecast sales to drop 6% to 8%.

The company cited weak demand for its older products.

The Securities and Exchange Commission launched an inquiry into a $10 million sale of stock by Big Lots (BIG) CEO Steven Fishman before the company announced news that sank the stock, a person familiar with the inquiry told The Wall Street Journal.

Fishman announced his retirement on Tuesday.

Earnings reports are expected Wednesday from Men's Wearhouse(MW) , Toro(TTC) , Finisar(FNSR) , Brown-Forman(BFB) and G-III Apparel(GIII) .