Investing.com - U.S. stock futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Friday, as markets were eyeing the release of highly anticipated U.S. employment data later in the day, amid ongoing speculation over when the Federal Reserve will begin tapering its stimulus program.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.04% gain, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.17% rise, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.28% increase.
Investors awaited the release of highly-anticipated U.S. employment data later in the trading session, after a strong report on U.S. economic growth on Thursday fuelled speculation the Federal Reserve could begin tapering its asset purchase program sooner-than-expected.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis said U.S. gross domestic product grew at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 2.8% in the three months to September, beating expectations for growth of 2%. The U.S. economy grew by 2.5% in the previous quarter.
Twitter was likely to remain in the spotlight after the stock climbed over 72% for its first day on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday. Twitter shares were up 0.76% in pre-market trade.
Auto stocks were also expected to be active, following Tesla Motors' third fire in five weeks involving a Model S. Shares in the luxury electric car tumbled 1.88% in early trading.
In the tech sector, Microsoft was slated to be in focus amid reports Stephen Elop, a candidate to replace Steve Ballmer as the company's chief executive officer, would consider refocusing the firm's strategy around making Office software programs available on a broad variety of smartphones and tablets, including those made by Apple and Google.
Among earnings, late Thursday, Walt Disney reported lower income at cable networks including ESPN, the company’s biggest source of profit, sending shares down 1.73% in after-hour trade.
Other companies likely to be in focus included de Brookfield Asset Management and Cablevision, scheduled to report quarterly results later in the day.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were sharply lower. The EURO STOXX 50 tumbled 1.07%, France’s CAC 40 lost 1.09%, Germany's DAX retreated 0.73%, while Britain's FTSE 100 slid 0.48%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declined 0.60%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index tumbled 1%.
Later in the day, the University of Michigan was to release the preliminary reading of its consumer sentiment index. The U.S. was also to report government data on nonfarm payrolls and the unemployment rate.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.04% gain, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.17% rise, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.28% increase.
Investors awaited the release of highly-anticipated U.S. employment data later in the trading session, after a strong report on U.S. economic growth on Thursday fuelled speculation the Federal Reserve could begin tapering its asset purchase program sooner-than-expected.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis said U.S. gross domestic product grew at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 2.8% in the three months to September, beating expectations for growth of 2%. The U.S. economy grew by 2.5% in the previous quarter.
Twitter was likely to remain in the spotlight after the stock climbed over 72% for its first day on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday. Twitter shares were up 0.76% in pre-market trade.
Auto stocks were also expected to be active, following Tesla Motors' third fire in five weeks involving a Model S. Shares in the luxury electric car tumbled 1.88% in early trading.
In the tech sector, Microsoft was slated to be in focus amid reports Stephen Elop, a candidate to replace Steve Ballmer as the company's chief executive officer, would consider refocusing the firm's strategy around making Office software programs available on a broad variety of smartphones and tablets, including those made by Apple and Google.
Among earnings, late Thursday, Walt Disney reported lower income at cable networks including ESPN, the company’s biggest source of profit, sending shares down 1.73% in after-hour trade.
Other companies likely to be in focus included de Brookfield Asset Management and Cablevision, scheduled to report quarterly results later in the day.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were sharply lower. The EURO STOXX 50 tumbled 1.07%, France’s CAC 40 lost 1.09%, Germany's DAX retreated 0.73%, while Britain's FTSE 100 slid 0.48%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declined 0.60%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index tumbled 1%.
Later in the day, the University of Michigan was to release the preliminary reading of its consumer sentiment index. The U.S. was also to report government data on nonfarm payrolls and the unemployment rate.