US pre-open: Futures in the green ahead of non farm jobs report
Wall Street futures were pointing to a positive open ahead of the bell on Friday as market participants awaited the release of this week's jobs report.
As of 1235 GMT, Dow Jones futures were up 0.28%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures had the indices opening 0.36% and 0.52% firmer, respectively.
The Dow closed 211.73 points higher on Thursday despite civil unrest in Washington after supporters of Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building.
Traders will be firmly focussed on the Labor Department's monthly non farm jobs report for December, with some economists expecting to report a small gain of just 50,000 for the period and others predicting a net loss as multiple areas reinstated restrictions as part of an effort to slow the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Before the report, however, markets were still in the green despite the anarchy in Washington earlier in the week that delayed the congressional confirmation of Presidential-elect Joe Biden's victory after the Democrats won two key Senate races in Georgia.
Overnight, Donald Trump also acknowledged that a new administration would be heading into the White House on 20 January for the first time since the election back in November.
Markets.com's Neil Wilson said: "The dust settled over US presidential election at last and investors continue to overlook any short-term worries about the virus and focus on more stimulus, fiscal expansion, infrastructure spending and a return to near-normal later in the year that should unleash higher consumption levels.
"There are hopes of a more settled political environment in the US and the firm belief that fiscal expansion and continued monetary policy support will deliver further upside for equity markets."
On the macro front, the non farm payrolls report will be out at 1330 GMT, while wholesale inventories data for November will follow at 1500 GMT and November consumer credit change numbers will be released at 2000 GMT.
No major corporate earnings were slated for release on Friday.