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Stock Futures Up Ahead of Non-Farm Payrolls Data

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U.S. stock futures were slightly higher on Friday with market participants eagerly waiting for the release of non-farm payrolls data.

At last check, futures on Dow Jones added 0.07%; those on NASDAQ 100 edged up 0.22% while futures on S&P 500 Index advanced 0.15%.

The Labor Department’s non-farm payrolls report for August is due at 8:30 a.m. EST. The data will guide the Federal Reserve’s stance on ongoing economic stimulating measures. If the job data shows significant improvement then the Fed could start scaling down the pace of bond purchases, most likely from September.

Economists surveyed by Reuters are anticipating 180,000 new job additions in August. In July, 162,000 new jobs were created. The unemployment rate is expected to remain at 7.4%.

Smithfield Foods Inc. (NYSE: SFD) is scheduled to report quarterly results ahead of the morning bell.

Shares of Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: SWHC) fell about 4% in premarket trading. The firearms maker, late on Thursday, reported 49% jump in fiscal first quarter net income. Earnings and revenue also topped expectations, however, analysts fear that the company will not be able to maintain same robust sales trend, which was witnessed in recent quarters. Still, the Company is confident as it upwardly revised full-year sales guidance.

Shares of VeriFone Systems Inc. (NYSE: PAY) jumped about 7.50% in premarket trading. The credit card payment system product maker, late on Thursday, handed fiscal third quarter results, which edged past company’s own forecast. The Company, however, swung to a fiscal third quarter loss due to falling margin and weaker sales.








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edliston
Post Written By: Ed Liston

Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications. He is widely quoted in various financial publications on the Internet. When Ed is not writing about stocks, investing in stocks, talking about stocks, or otherwise doing something stock related, he likes to go sailing and fishing in his yacht.

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Ed Liston

Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications. He is widely quoted in various financial publications on the Internet. When Ed is not writing about stocks, investing in stocks, talking about stocks, or otherwise doing something stock related, he likes to go sailing and fishing.

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