Investing.com – U.S. futures were flat ahead of the Friday bell as investors wait for nonfarm payrolls data.
The S&P 500 futures fell a little over one point or 0.04% as of 6:15 AM ET (10:52 GMT) while Dow futures were down ten points or 0.04%. Tech heavy Nasdaq 100 futures increased five points or 0.09%.
U.S. nonfarm payrolls data, a key data sources used by the Federal Reserve to decide on interest rates, is released on Friday at 8:30 AM ET (14:30 GMT).
In pre-market trading, software company Synchronoss Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:SNCR) was the biggest winner, jumping 23.13% on news that private equity firm Siris Capital was considering buying the company.
Global shipping company Diana Containerships Inc (NASDAQ:DCIX) was also up 20.32% after it announced it would sell up to seven vassals.
Elsewhere mortgage real estate company Annaly Capital Management Inc (NYSE:NLY) fell 3.07% after it announced a public stock offering. The American division of Irish construction firm CRH (LON:CRH) fell 2.11% on news that its acquisition target Ash Grove Cement received a higher bid.
In earnings news, communications firm Straight Path Communications Inc (NYSE:STRP) is expected to release its earnings on Friday.
Shortly after the payrolls data release, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic will speak. Later on Friday, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Eric S. Rosengren, Federal Reserve Bank of New York William C. Dudley, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Robert Kaplan and
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard will also speak at various events.
Meanwhile in Europe, Spain’s IBEX 35 dragged down 0.83% as Catalan uncertainty continued to spook investors. The Euro Stoxx 50 were down 0.16% while Germany’s DAX grew marginally by 0.09%. France’s CAC 40 fell 0.16% and the FTSE 100 increased 0.25%.
Gold futures were up 0.14% to $1,271.35 an ounce while crude oil fell 0.61% to $50.38 a barrel. The US dollar index future, which measures the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, increased to 93.86.