U.S. Market Futures Pointing Lower Ahead of Jobs Report

U.S. stock futures are pointing lower in pre-market trading for Friday, October 7. The Dow Futures are at 18156.0 for a loss of -43.00 points. The S&P 500 Futures are at 2149.75 for a loss of -6.75 points. The Nasdaq Futures are at 4856.75 for a loss of -15.25 points. The Russell Futures are at 1240.5 for a loss of -4.10 points.

In overnight trading in the Eastern Hemisphere Japan’s Nikkei 225 is lower at 16860.09 for a loss of -39.01 points or -0.23 percent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is at 23851.82 for a loss of -100.68 points or -0.42 percent. China’s Shanghai Composite is at 3004.70 for a loss of 6.22 points or 0.21 percent. India’s S&P BSE Sensex is at 28061.14 for a loss of -45.07 points or -0.16 percent. In Europe, the FTSE 100 is at 7050.30 for a gain of 50.34 points or 0.72 percent. Germany’s DAX is at 10499.20 for a loss of -69.60 points or -0.66 percent. France’s CAC 40 is at 4455.30 for a loss of -24.80 points or -0.55 percent. The Stoxx Europe 600 is at 339.89 for a loss of -2.93 points or -0.85 percent.

Friday’s Factors and Events

Stocks are lower in pre-market trading as investors look to the jobs report to be released Friday morning. Private sector payrolls indicated job growth could be lower than expected.

Also on the the economic calendar for Friday are the following reports: Consumer Credit and the Baker Hughes Rig Count. Federal Reserve officials scheduled to speak on Friday include: Stanley Fischer, Loretta Mester, Esther George and Lael Brainard.

Stocks trading actively in the pre-market include the following:

Chesapeake Energy

Ralph Lauren

Endo International

Staples

Mylan

Baker Hughes

Whole Foods Market

Dollar General

Dollar Tree

Home Depot

In addition to the jobs report, investors will also be watching a few other factors on Friday. The pound continues to fall. Also, third quarter earnings begin next week.

Thursday’s Activity

U.S. market indexes were mixed on Thursday. For the day the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 18268.50 for a loss of -12.53 points or -0.07 percent. The S&P 500 was higher, closing at 2160.77 for a gain of 1.04 points or 0.05 percent. The Nasdaq Composite closed lower at 5306.85 for a loss of -9.17 points or -0.17 percent.

untitled

Source: DJIA, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite. Google Finance.

Other notable index closes included the small-cap Russell 2000 Index lower at 1246.24 for a loss of -2.13 points or -0.17 percent; the S&P 600 Small-Cap Index lower at 755.02 for a loss of -0.35 points or -0.05 percent; the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index at 1544.24 for a gain of 2.31 points or 0.15 percent; the S&P 100 Index at 956.83 for a gain of 0.27 points or 0.03 percent; the Russell 3000 Index at 1279.43 for a loss of -0.17 points or -0.01 percent; the Russell 1000 Index at 1197.44 for a gain of 0.00 percent; and the Dow Jones U.S. Select Dividend Index at 605.19 for a gain of 0.54 points or 0.09 percent.