By Barbara Kollmeyer, MarketWatch

MADRID (MarketWatch) -- Stock futures were balanced on the flat line Friday as investors waited for all-important nonfarm payrolls data.

Wall Street is hoping for a number that neither shows the recovery is stalling nor that the economy is overheating.

Futures for the S&P 500 index (SPZ4) inched up 0.4 point to 2,028.40, while those for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJZ4) rose 6 points to 17,510. Futures for the Nasdaq-100 index (NDZ4) added 6 points to 4,168.75.

The U.S. likely added 243,000 jobs in October, according to economists polled by MarketWatch. The data, due at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, is also expected to show the unemployment rate likely stayed at 5.9%. Read: Five things to watch in October jobs report

Still, it appears strategists are struggling to figure out what the markets need from the data. "Between 180,000 and 230,000 would be a good number, to keep faith in the recovery that we're in and keep the Fed from bringing forward its guidance for its first interest-rate hikes," said Wouter Sturkenboom, investment strategist at Russell Investment.

"If it comes in between 270,000 to 320,000, markets might consider that to be too hot, and would be afraid that would push the Fed into a more hawkish stance," he said, adding that jobs growth between 230,000 to 270,000 is a "toss up," with regards to market reaction.

Goldman Sachs said it expects payroll growth of 235,000 jobs, describing it as slightly above the three-month average of 224,000.

For a second day running, the S&P 500 (SPX) and the Dow industrials (DJI) finished at record levels on Thursday, boosted after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said the central bank is ready to adopt new easing measures if needed.

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Fed speakers in the mix: Outside of big jobs data, Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen will give a speech on monetary policy since the onset of the financial crisis at a Bank of France conference in Paris at 10:15 a.m. Eastern.

Ahead of that, New York Fed President William Dudley, who is a voting member of the Fed policy committee, will appear on a panel at the Bank of France conference at 8:15 a.m. Eastern. Chicago Fed President Charles Evans, who will be a voting member of the Fed policy committee in 2015, will give opening remarks to the 10th Annual Community Bankers Symposium at 9:15 a.m. Eastern.

Finally, Fed Gov. Daniel Tarullo will speak at the Chicago Fed's 10th Annual Community Bankers Symposium at 2:30 p.m. Eastern.

Consumer-credit data is due at 3 p.m. Eastern.

Disney, GAP among shares to watch:Walt Disney Co.(DIS) was down 2% in thin premarket trading after the company's earnings fell slightly short of expectations, while revenue was a slight beat.

Zynga Inc.(ZNGA) rose 10% in premarket after its third-quarter earnings met Wall Street forecasts and sales came in slightly higher.

Sears Holdings Corp.(SHLD) jumped 20% in premarket, after saying it may form a real estate investment trust involving 200 to 300 stores as it seeks to boost its balance sheet.

King Digital Entertainment PLC(KING) rose 7% in premarket after the "Candy Crush" creator said third-quarter results topped expectations and announced a stock-buyback plan.

Ahead of the open, Humana Inc. (HUM) posted a profit that fell short of forecasts, but shares were so far inactive. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK/A) (BRKA) reports after the close. (Read more in Movers and Shakers http://www.marketwatch.com/story/berkshire-hathaway-humana-ew-scripps-earnings-in-focus-2014-11-07.)

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Dollar headed to Yen116? In other markets, the dollar (USDJPY) inched up against the yen, but one analyst said watch for a move to Yen116 to Yen116.50 if solid jobs data rallies stocks. Oil (CLZ4) rose 30 cents, but strategists said they don't really expect any gains to last, and support at $77 a barrel is shaky. Europe stocks, meanwhile, climbed ahead of the U.S. payroll data, while the Nikkei 225 index rose 0.5% to gain 2.8% for the week.

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