(MENAFN- ProactiveInvestors) U.S. stock futures were slightly higher ahead of Friday's jobs report following both European and Asian stocks after the Dow and the S&P 500 retreated from record highs yesterday.
Futures on the three major US indexes were up between 0.1% and 0.2% as of 7:45am ET.
On the economic calendar this morning investors will be getting a look at the labor market with the November jobs report due for release at 8:30am ET. Economists are expecting that 230000 jobs were created last month.
Besides the payrolls report the government also releases the October trade deficit at 8:30am ET which will be followed by October factory orders at 10:00 ET that are expected to post a 0.2% decline on top of September's 0.6% drop. In the afternoon investors can expect October consumer credit figures at 3:00pm ET.
In corporate activity closeout retailer () lost more than expected in its latest quarter and revenue for the quarter was on the light side as well.
Gap () said that comparable store sales rose by a better-than-expected 6% in November driven by an 18% surge at its Old Navy chain.
American Eagle () matched estimates with earnings late Thursday while revenue topped views. It also forecast current quarter earnings below Street estimates.
In other stock news () is reportedly moving to dismiss the lawsuit involving claims of monopolistic behaviour with its iPod software.
The hacking job at Pictures () has disclosed more personal information than previously believed according to a report in the Wall Street Journal including the Social Security numbers of more than 47000 current and former employees actors and other freelancers.
Keurig Green Mountain () is buying the 85% stake of Bevyz Global that it didn't already own for about $220 million. Bevyz makes a single portion multi drink system that includes both hot and cold drinks.
Canada's government has approved Burger King's () $11 billion purchase of (NYSE:THI) clearing the path to create the world's third largest fast food chain.
European markets were broadly higher today with shares in Germany leading the region on expectations for upbeat US jobs data and strong German factory orders. The rally comes after European stocks fell yesterday following Mario Draghi's assertions that further monetary easing measures would not be instituted until next year. Asian markets also finished higher led by China's Shanghai Composite Index.
January crude continued to fall shedding 34 cents in New York to $66.49 a barrel in electronic trading while February gold dropped $4 to $1203 an ounce.
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