U.S. stock futures were little changed Friday, with major
indexes poised to notch weekly gains.
S&P 500 futures were nearly flat at 2128. E-mini Dow futures
rose 13 points, or 0.1%, to 18271. E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures added
four points, or 0.1%, to 4533. Changes in stock futures don't
always accurately predict moves in the stock market after the
opening bell.
Investors will receive an inflation reading on Friday morning.
The consumer price index is expected to rise 0.1% in April,
according to economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal.
Excluding food and energy, prices are expected to rise 0.2%.
Federal Reserve officials are watching the labor market and
inflation as they debate when to raise short-term rates.
Stocks rose Thursday, propelling the S&P 500 to a record
close. The S&P added 0.2% to 2130.82. The Dow was up 0.34 point
to 18285.74, ending 0.1% below its most recent record of
18312.39.
The Dow and S&P both hit all-time highs this week. The Dow
industrials have risen 0.1% for the week through Thursday's close.
The S&P and Nasdaq are on track to post more substantial gains,
up 0.4% and 0.8% in the same period, respectively. Trading was
quiet ahead of a long weekend, with daily stock-market volume
staying below the 2015 average. The stock market will be closed
Monday for Memorial Day.
"We've go the Dow and S&P touching new highs but it doesn't
seem to be with very much enthusiasm," said Colin Cieszynski, chief
market strategist at CMC Markets.
In Europe, Germany's DAX slipped 0.4% while France's CAC 40 was
nearly flat. The Stoxx Europe 600 fell 0.1% as the euro rose 0.5%
to $1.1161. The index includes a number of exporters that tend to
come under pressure when the euro strengthens.
Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen is scheduled to speak
about the U.S. economic outlook at 1 p.m. ET.
In commodity markets, gold futures rose 0.6% to $1211.60 an
ounce. Crude-oil futures lost 0.9% to $60.19 a barrel. The yield on
the 10-year Treasury note was at 2.170%, compared with 2.186% on
Thursday. Yields fall as prices rise.
Write to Saumya Vaishampayan at saumya.vaishampayan@wsj.com
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