Investing.com - U.S. stock futures pointed to a lower open on Friday, as markets were jittery amid discussions between finance ministers and central bankers from the Group of 20 nations, although comments by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke supported.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.14% fall, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.05% dip, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.19% loss.
In his second day of testimony on monetary policy before the Financial Services Committee in Congress, Bernanke reiterated that monetary policy will remain highly accommodative, even as the central bank starts to pare back its bond buying.
On Wednesday, Bernanke said the central bank expects to start tapering bond purchases by the end of the year, but added that there was no “preset course.”
He added that the bank’s bond purchase program could be tapered at a faster pace, slower pace or even temporarily increased depending on economic and financial developments.
In earnings news, after the U.S. close on Thursday Microsoft reported fourth-quarter profit that missed analysts’ projections by the biggest margin in at least a decade as demand weakens for personal computers running Windows.
Microsoft shares plunged 6.57% in pre-mark trade.
Google shares were also down in early trading, plummeting 3.92%, after the Internet company reported second-quarter sales and profit that missed estimates as mobile advertising crimped average prices.
Elsewhere, Time Warner Cable climbed 0.67% pre-market, after saying it’s balking at renewing an agreement to carry CBS's broadcast network on its pay-TV system because the entertainment company is asking for too much money.
Also in company news, Dell eased 0.08% in extended trading as the shareholder meeting to vote on Michael Dell and Silver Lake's USD24.4 billion buyout proposal was adjourned on Thursday and rescheduled for July 24.
Other stocks expected to be in focus included General Electric, Honeywell, Baker Hughes, Whirlpool and Kansas City Southern , scheduled to post second quarter results later in the day.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were lower. The EURO STOXX 50 slid 0.31%, France’s CAC 40 shed 0.32%, Germany's DAX declined 0.37%, while Britain's FTSE 100 dropped 0.40%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index edged up 0.08%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index tumbled 1.48%.
Trading volumes were expected to remain light on Friday, as no U.S. data was scheduled to be released throughout the day.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.14% fall, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.05% dip, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.19% loss.
In his second day of testimony on monetary policy before the Financial Services Committee in Congress, Bernanke reiterated that monetary policy will remain highly accommodative, even as the central bank starts to pare back its bond buying.
On Wednesday, Bernanke said the central bank expects to start tapering bond purchases by the end of the year, but added that there was no “preset course.”
He added that the bank’s bond purchase program could be tapered at a faster pace, slower pace or even temporarily increased depending on economic and financial developments.
In earnings news, after the U.S. close on Thursday Microsoft reported fourth-quarter profit that missed analysts’ projections by the biggest margin in at least a decade as demand weakens for personal computers running Windows.
Microsoft shares plunged 6.57% in pre-mark trade.
Google shares were also down in early trading, plummeting 3.92%, after the Internet company reported second-quarter sales and profit that missed estimates as mobile advertising crimped average prices.
Elsewhere, Time Warner Cable climbed 0.67% pre-market, after saying it’s balking at renewing an agreement to carry CBS's broadcast network on its pay-TV system because the entertainment company is asking for too much money.
Also in company news, Dell eased 0.08% in extended trading as the shareholder meeting to vote on Michael Dell and Silver Lake's USD24.4 billion buyout proposal was adjourned on Thursday and rescheduled for July 24.
Other stocks expected to be in focus included General Electric, Honeywell, Baker Hughes, Whirlpool and Kansas City Southern , scheduled to post second quarter results later in the day.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were lower. The EURO STOXX 50 slid 0.31%, France’s CAC 40 shed 0.32%, Germany's DAX declined 0.37%, while Britain's FTSE 100 dropped 0.40%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index edged up 0.08%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index tumbled 1.48%.
Trading volumes were expected to remain light on Friday, as no U.S. data was scheduled to be released throughout the day.