-- Consumer stocks were edging higher pre-bell Thursday, with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) up 0.1% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) advancing by 0.2%.
PepsiCo (PEP) stock was up 0.7% after the company posted higher fiscal Q1 core earnings and net revenue.
Brown-Forman (BF.A, BF.B) continues to be in merger discussions with Pernod Ricard, Reuters reported, citing Pernod Ricard Chief Financial Officer Helene de Tissot. Brown-Forman shares were down 0.3% premarket.