Investing.com - U.S. stock futures pointed to a steady open on Friday, as investors remained cautious after a string of disappointing data out of China and ahead of a speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke later in the day.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.07% gain, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.08% rise, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.01% uptick.
Markets were jittery after data showed that China's non-manufacturing purchasing managers' index fell to 54.6 in December, from a reading of 56.0 the previous month.
Reports earlier in the week showed that China’s final HSBC PMI inched down to 50.5 in December from a reading of 50.8 in November, while China’s manufacturing PMI fell to a four-month low of 51.0 last month from 51.4 in November.
Aircraft manufacturer Boeing was expected to be active as the company's machinists were preparing to vote on a contract that would see benefit cuts in exchange for building the 777X aircraft in the Seattle area.
Leaders from the union had rejected an initial contract in November. Boeing shares rose 0.29% in after-hour trade.
FireEye was also likely to be in focus as shares soared 22.68% in extended trading, after the global network security company said it is acquiring Mandiant Corp. in a USD1.05 billion deal that consolidates providers of services that protect computer networks against hackers and spies.
In the telecom sector, Stifel Nicolaus & Co. downgraded Sprint to "sell" from "hold", sending shares in the operator tumbling 1.92% pre-market.
Elsewhere, 21st Century Fox reportedly sold its minority stake in Star China TV, in part of a strategy to divest businesses in which the company can’t gain majority ownership.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were higher. The EURO STOXX 50 rose 0.27%, France’s CAC 40 climbed 0.48%, Germany's DAX added 0.23%, while Britain's FTSE 100 edged up 0.08%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index plummeted 2.24%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index remained shut for a national holiday.
Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.07% gain, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.08% rise, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.01% uptick.
Markets were jittery after data showed that China's non-manufacturing purchasing managers' index fell to 54.6 in December, from a reading of 56.0 the previous month.
Reports earlier in the week showed that China’s final HSBC PMI inched down to 50.5 in December from a reading of 50.8 in November, while China’s manufacturing PMI fell to a four-month low of 51.0 last month from 51.4 in November.
Aircraft manufacturer Boeing was expected to be active as the company's machinists were preparing to vote on a contract that would see benefit cuts in exchange for building the 777X aircraft in the Seattle area.
Leaders from the union had rejected an initial contract in November. Boeing shares rose 0.29% in after-hour trade.
FireEye was also likely to be in focus as shares soared 22.68% in extended trading, after the global network security company said it is acquiring Mandiant Corp. in a USD1.05 billion deal that consolidates providers of services that protect computer networks against hackers and spies.
In the telecom sector, Stifel Nicolaus & Co. downgraded Sprint to "sell" from "hold", sending shares in the operator tumbling 1.92% pre-market.
Elsewhere, 21st Century Fox reportedly sold its minority stake in Star China TV, in part of a strategy to divest businesses in which the company can’t gain majority ownership.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were higher. The EURO STOXX 50 rose 0.27%, France’s CAC 40 climbed 0.48%, Germany's DAX added 0.23%, while Britain's FTSE 100 edged up 0.08%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index plummeted 2.24%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index remained shut for a national holiday.