U.S. stock futures edged lower on Friday as traders weighing concerns over rising oil prices and ongoing Middle East conflict while anticipating the latest employment figures.
As of 4:24 P.M. (GMT+7), Dow Jones Industrial Average futures ticked down by 0.17%, or 79.50 points, to 47,874.70 points, while S&P 500 futures slipped by 0.25%, or 17.30 points, to 6,813.30 points. Nasdaq 100 futures also decreased by 0.25%, or 62.90 points, to 24,957.50 points.
Energy sector volatility remained in focus following a substantial rally in oil prices on Thursday that placed the commodity on track for its largest weekly advance since 2022. However, prices showed signs of easing after the U.S. indicated it may introduce measures to counter recent spikes in energy costs.
Investors are now awaiting the February U.S. employment report, which is expected to provide further insights into the labor market. Economists surveyed predict a payroll increase of 55,000 jobs for the month, a slowdown from the 130,000 positions added in January. The national jobless rate is forecast to remain unchanged at 4.3%.
In the policy sphere, President Donald Trump’s tariff approach returned to the spotlight following a federal court decision requiring the administration to begin reimbursing businesses for up to $130 billion in levies invalidated by the Supreme Court. The case has drawn involvement from over two dozen state governments and more than 2,000 companies, among them Costco and FedEx.
