By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock futures pointed to another
day in positive territory on Friday as fears of a June interest
rate continued to fade on the back of disappointing retail-sales
data in the prior day's trade.
A solid finish in Japan will greet U.S. investors, with the
Nikkei Average jumping above 19,000 for the first time since April
2000 (http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid).
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJM5) climbed 11
points, or 0.1%, to 17,803, while those for the S&P 500 index
(SPM5) added 2.60 points, or 0.1%, to 2,059.10. Futures for the
Nasdaq 100 index (NDM5) gained 7.25 points, or 0.2%, to
4,332.00.
The small advances came after U.S. stocks on Thursday logged the
biggest gain in more than a month
(http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid) as expectations
for the first Federal Reserve rate hike were pushed back after data
showed Americans spent less money than expected in February
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/americans-were-only-spending-on-college-and-cars-and-now-not-cars-2015-03-12).
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/americans-were-only-spending-on-college-and-cars-and-now-not-cars-2015-03-12)"As
we finish off a turbulent week for equities, hopes that a U.S. rate
hike may be postponed is propping up the market in early trade.
However, we may be in for a lackluster few days as investors await
the next Fed meeting for more clues," said Mike McCudden, head of
derivatives at stockbroker Interactive Investor, in a note.
The Federal Open Market Committee meets on Tuesday and Wednesday
and although no rate changes are expected this time, investors will
closely be watching Chairwoman Janet Yellen's press conference for
any hints on how patient the central bank will be before tightening
its monetary policy.
Friday's data: Further providing a health check on the U.S.
consumer, the University of Michigan's consumer-sentiment index for
March is due at 9:55 a.m. Eastern Time. As seen on Thursday after
the disappointing retail sales, a weak reading could give stocks
another leg up because it would further raise questions about a
rate hike, according to Tony Cross, market analyst at Trustnet
Direct.
"Conversely anything that's looking a bit too hot here could
give traders an excuse to sell down into the weekend break," he
said in a note.
The producer-price index is out at 8:30 a.m. Eastern.
Earnings: Reporting ahead of the bell, clothing retailer Ann
Inc.(ANN) is projected to report a loss of 3 cents a share in the
fourth quarter, according to a consensus survey by FactSet.
Apparel retailerBuckle Inc.(BKE) is forecast to post
fourth-quarter earnings of $1.24 a share.
Hibbett Sports Inc.(HIBB) is expected to post fourth-quarter
earnings of 68 cents a share.
Movers and shakers: Shares of AĆ©ropostale Inc.(ARO) lost 4.9%
ahead of the open after the apparel retailer said it forecast a
larger-than-expected loss in the first quarter.
FXCM Inc.(FXCM) surged 11% premarket after the foreign-exchange
broker's fourth-quarter earnings released on Thursday topped
consensus estimates
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fxcms-stock-rallies-after-better-than-expected-profit-sales-2015-03-12).
Herbalife Ltd.(HLF) could also be active after a Wall Street
Journal report that federal investigators were interviewing people
connected to hedge-fund billionaire Bill Ackman in a possible stock
manipulation probe
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ackmans-people-interviewed-in-potential-herbalife-manipulation-probe-2015-03-12).
Other markets: European markets were mostly higher, although the
U.K.'s FTSE 100 index darted between gains and losses
(http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid), hit by utility
shares.
Oil prices were lower, while metals rose across the board. The
ICE dollar index (DXY) was little changed
(http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid).
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