By Stewart Lewis

(June 15 – 09:00 ET) – Early morning futures markets were quiet this morning as traders await fresh economic data, including jobless claims figures and industrial production numbers. They will give interest rate watchers some direction since investors remain edgy ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy meeting on June 27-28.

An hour before the opening bell, NASDAQ 100 index futures were up 11.50 points at 3,767.00. Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures edged up 2.10 points to 1,500.20.

Economists are predicting a fall in industrial production of 0.3% for May, following a 0.9% rise in the prior month.

In Canada, Statistics Canada is reporting that manufacturers’ shipments fell 2.8% in April to $43.5 billion led by declines in the motor vehicle and refined petroleum and coal industries. “April’s decrease follows a strong showing by virtually all industries in March; it is the second large decline this year. The volatility of the last three months has curbed the strong upward trend that began in August 1998,” says StasCan. Manufacturers’ shipments have increased 0.3% since the beginning of 2000, and were 9.3% higher than in April 1999. Excluding the automotive sector, manufacturers’ shipments decreased 2.0% from March.

Overseas, markets are mostly flat. At midday in Europe, London’s FTSE 100 sits unchanged at 6539.20. Paris CAC 40 is down slightly at 6593.20. Germany’s DAX is up slightly at 7366.53. In Asia, there was little change. The Hang Seng closed up 1.4% to 16080.30. The Nikkei closed down 1.9% to 16338.70.

In business news, the TSE 300 has halted trading of VERSUS technologies. E-Trade Group Inc. has signed an agreement to acquire the company.