Investing.com - U.S. stock futures pointed to a steady open on Monday, as markets eyed the release of U.S. manufacturing data later in the day, while Friday's downbeat reports continued to weigh.
Ahead of the open, the Dow 30 futures pointed to a 0.13% rise, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.08% gain, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.06% uptick.
U.S. equity markets were jittery after data on Friday showed that U.S. consumer spending fell 0.1% in April from a month earlier, missing forecasts for a 0.2% increase. Personal income rose 0.3%, in line with forecasts.
Separately, the final reading of the University of Michigan's consumer-sentiment index for May came in at 81.9, up slightly from a preliminary reading of 81.8, but falling short of forecasts for 82.5.
Elsewhere, data released over the weekend showed that China’s official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index rose to a five-month high of 50.8 in May, above expectations for 50.6 and up from 50.4 in April.
Boeing (NYSE:BA) was expected to be active, amid reports the company is talking to Emirates, the world’s biggest operator of the Airbus A380 superjumbo, about a potential sale of its rival 747-8.
The tech sector was also likely to be in focus, after Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL), down 0.03% pre-market, launched an online form on Friday giving European users the possibility to get personal information about themselves removed from search results.
The move came after a ruling by the European Union Court of Justice earlier in the month.
In the financial field, KKR & Co LP (NYSE:KKR) announced that it is closing its equity hedge fund, only three years after hiring former Goldman Sachs proprietary trader Bob Howard to run it.
Other stocks likely to be in focus included Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (NYSE:KKD), scheduled to report quarterly earnings after the closing bell.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were mostly higher. The DJ Euro Stoxx 50 added 0.13%, France’s CAC 40 eased 0.09%, Germany's DAX rose 0.22%, while Britain's FTSE 100 gained 0.25%.
During the Asian trading session, Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged 2.07%. Markets in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan remained closed for the Dragon Boat Festival.
Later in the day, the Institute of Supply Management was to publish a report on U.S. manufacturing activity.