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(Reuters) – Stock index futures pointed to a slightly lower open on Wall Street on Friday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.21 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.17 percent and Nasdaq100 futures flat at 0725 GMT (3:25 a.m. ET).
The Labor Department is due to release the August employment report at 1230 GMT. Economists in a Reuters survey forecast 100,000 jobs were lost in the month compared with 131,000 lost in July. The unemployment rate is seen at 9.6 percent, compared with a 9.5 percent rate in the prior month.
The nonfarm payrolls will probably show a hit from a combination of the fading boost from census hiring, a reluctance by firms to add staff and relentless layoffs at cash-strapped state and local governments.
Economic indicators on tap for Friday also include the Institute for Supply Management's services sector report, while on the earnings front, Campbell Soup Co (CPB.N) is the only S&P 500 company scheduled to post quarterly results Friday.
Tech shares will be in focus after Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS), the world's No.2 handset maker, expects to sell up to 25 million smartphones this year, exceeding its earlier target, and aims to double shipments next year, media reports said on Friday.
On the M&A front, Canada's Goldcorp Inc (G.TO) agreed to buy gold miner Andean Resources Ltd (AND.TO) for $3.2 billion, trumping a competing offer from rival Eldorado Gold Corp (ELD.TO) (EAU.AX).
BP Plc (BP.L)(BP.N) said on Friday the cost of dealing with its oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico had risen to $8 billion and that it was a fortnight away from sealing the well for good.
Video game maker Take-Two Interactive Inc (TTWO.O) on Thursday smashed Wall Street expectations for its fiscal third quarter and raised its forecast for the current fourth quarter, citing strong sales for its "Red Dead Redemption" title. Shares of Take-Two traded in Frankfurt (TTWO.F) were up 18 percent.
H&R Block Inc (HRB.N) posted a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss as the No. 1 U.S. tax preparer cut costs in the face of stiff competition from Intuit Inc (INTU.O) and said it expects to sell about 150 more offices before the next tax season.
European shares were up 0.2 percent in morning trade, while Tokyo's Nikkei average rose 0.6 percent, as more positive data reassured investors about the health of the global economic recovery.
U.S. stocks rose on low volume on Thursday as data showed improvement in housing and the job market a day ahead of the critical monthly payrolls figures. The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) added 50.63 points, or 0.49 percent, to 10,320.10. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (.SPX) rose 9.81 points, or 0.91 percent, to 1,090.10. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) gained 23.17 points, or 1.06 percent, to close at 2,200.01.
(Reporting by Blaise Robinson; Editing by Mike Nesbit)
