U.S. stock index futures were slightly higher during early morning trading on Friday, as investors digested a key jobs report release that will provide some clues on the state of the economy and could influence policy.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials docked 13 points to 36,110.
Futures for the S&P 500 nicked higher four points, or 0.1%, to 4,691.50.
Futures for the NASDAQ picked up 21.25 points, or 0.1%, to 15,780. The tech-heavy NASDAQ is on track for its worst week since February 2021 as investors rotate out of growth and into value names.
The U.S. economy increased the workforce by only 199,000 jobs during December, less than half the expected 422,000.
The unemployment rate was forecast to come in at 4.1%. One key caveat is the survey week for the report includes the 12th of the month, so it is unlikely to full convey the impact the latest COVID-19 variant is having on hiring.
In early trading Friday, GameStop shares soared more than 15% pre-market following news that the company is venturing into the crypto world with investments in a marketplace for nonfungible tokens and digital currency partnerships to create games and other items.
Elsewhere, shares of Starbucks fell about 3% after both RBC and Oppenheimer downgraded the coffee giant on the notion that the stock may have peaked in the near term and will struggle to grow profits ahead.
Also, Discovery's stock rose 3.8% after Bank of America upgraded the company, saying that it should gain as benefits with Warner Media become clearer.
Overseas, Japan the Nikkei 225 dipped more than eight points Friday, while the Hang Seng in Hong Kong sprinted 1.8%.
Oil prices picked up 50 cents to $79.96 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices slid 70 cents to $1,789.20 U.S. an ounce.