Stock futures were near the flatline Friday as investors awaited key payrolls data.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial average sank 49 points or 0.1%, to 44,818.
Futures for the S&P 500 slid five points, or 0.1%, to 6,083.75
Futures for the NASDAQ Composite Index poked ahead 5.25 points to 21,478.50.
Stocks closed Thursday’s session lower, retreating from records the major indexes hit in the previous session. Week to date, the S&P 500 is up 0.7%, while the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite has gained 2.5%. The 30-stock Dow is down 0.3% in the period.
Economists polled by Dow Jones expect that non-farm payrolls increased by 214,000 in November, which would mark a huge hike from October’s gain of just 12,000. The report could give investors insight into the Federal Reserve’s next policy move later this month.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 folded 0.8% Friday, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng rose 1.6%
Oil prices slumped 64 cents to $67.66 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices climbed $7.50 to $2,655.90 U.S. an ounce.
