08:56 AM EST, 11/05/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures posted narrow gains before Tuesday's opening bell in nervous trading ahead of the outcome of the country's presidential election.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures increased 0.1%, S&P 500 futures gained 0.2%, and Nasdaq futures were up 0.4%.

Investors awaiting the results of the high-stakes contest between former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 0.5% at $75.47 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 0.6% higher at $71.89 per barrel.

US trade data, released at 8:30 am ET, showed the trade deficit widened to $84.36 billion in September from $70.79 billion in the prior month, compared with estimates compiled by Bloomberg for $84.0 billion.

The Institute for Supply Management's Non-Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index, due at 10 am ET, is seen at 53.8 in October versus 54.9 previously.

In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 1.1% higher, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 2.1% higher, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 2.3% higher. The UK's FTSE 100 slipped 0.2% and Germany's DAX index gained 0.3% in Europe's early afternoon session.

In equities, shares of DuPont de Nemours ( DD ) were 2% higher pre-bell after the company reported higher Q3 adjusted earnings and sales and lifted its 2024 profit outlook. QuinStreet ( QNST ) shares advanced 33% after the company reported late Monday fiscal Q1 adjusted profit on higher revenue.

On the losing side, Celanese (CE) shares fell 20% after the company late Monday reported lower Q3 adjusted earnings and sales. Lattice Semiconductor ( LSCC ) shares were down 10% after the company also reported late Monday lower Q3 adjusted earnings and revenue.