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 hike faded following Thursday's disappointing retail-sales report.

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 (YMM5) climbed 23 points, or 0.1%, to 17,816 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 (NQM5) gained 8.25 points, or 0.2%, to 4,333.00.

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 the market pushed back expectations for the first Federal Reserve 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).

"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, Hibbett Sports Inc.(HIBB) said better weather and tax refunds drove stronger-than-expected results in its fiscal fourth quarter.

Apparel retailer Buckle Inc.(BKE) reported fourth-quarter earnings per share of $1.25.

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.

Movers and shakers: Shares of Aéropostale 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 14% 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) rose 6.6% 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).

eBay Inc.(EBAY) picked up 1.1% ahead of the bell after Susquehanna Financial upgraded the company to positive from neutral.

United Technologies Corp.(UTX) said it will accelerate share buyback agreements (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/united-technologies-enters-265-billion-accelerated-stock-buyback-deals-2015-03-13) with Goldman Sachs (GS) and Morgan Stanley (MS) for the repurchase of a total of $2.65 billion worth of the industrial conglomerate's common stock.

Other markets: European markets were mixed, with the U.K.'s FTSE 100 index darted between gains and losses (http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid), hit by utility shares.

Crude oil accelerated losses after the International Energy Agency said the recovery for oil prices remains fragile (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/iea-oil-price-recovery-still-fragile-2015-03-13) amid a production rebound in the U.S. and brimming inventories.

Most metals rose, while the ICE dollar index (DXY) climbed slightly.

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