U.S. stock index futures pointed to a slightly lower open on Wall Street on Friday following the previous session's sharp rally, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.35 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.17 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.09 percent at 6:10 a.m. EDT.

Tech and telecom stocks will be in focus after bellwether telecom gear maker Alcatel-Lucent posted its twelfth straight quarterly net loss, hit hard by telecoms operators' sharp cutbacks in network investments, sending its shares down 7 percent in Paris.

Investors were also digesting Sony Corp's <6758.T> results and outlook. The electronics and entertainment conglomerate posted a loss for the fourth consecutive quarter, but trimmed its full-year loss forecast close to market expectations, sending its shares up 2.8 percent.

Rival Panasonic Corp <6752.T> posted its first profit in three quarters on robust sales of advanced DVD recorders and appliances, and raised its full-year outlook, sending its shares up 3 percent.

Pharmaceutical shares will also be in the spotlight after Sanofi-Aventis raised its outlook for 2009 thanks to sales of swine flu vaccine and posted earnings per share growth that beat forecasts as competition from generics was offset by revenue growth for other drugs.

Japan's Nikkei average rose 1.5 percent on Friday, buoyed by shares of tech companies with improved earnings prospects, while European stocks were slightly up in morning trade, as rising banking shares offset weakness in energy stocks, which retreated along with oil prices.

Oil paused from the previous session's jump of 3 percent and steadied at below $80 a barrel on Friday, as concern over sluggish economic recovery and energy demand kept investors from pushing prices higher.

The dollar inched up versus the euro on Friday, taking a cue from an early slide in European shares as traders awaited U.S. data to see if the economy shows more signs of recovery after strong third-quarter growth.

The day's earnings calendar includes quarterly results from Duke Energy and Chevron Corp .

The day's economic agenda includes the Commerce Department's September personal income and consumption data at 8:30 a.m. EDT.

The Institute for Supply Management New York releases its October index of regional business activity at 8:30 a.m. EDT. The Institute of Supply Management Chicago releases October index of manufacturing activity at 9:45 a.m. EDT. Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers release the final October consumer sentiment index at 9:55 a.m. EDT.

After the close on Thursday, shares in McAfee fell 4.5 percent as it posted results, while shares of Novatel Wireless fell 16.6 percent as it posted quarterly results. Shares in Genworth Financial rose 10.5 percent to $11.25 in extended trade after the insurer reported third-quarter earnings.

U.S. stocks logged their best one-day percentage gain in three months on Thursday as investors saw data showing the U.S. economy returned to growth in the third quarter as brightening the outlook for profits.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 199.89 points, or 2.05 percent, to end at 9,962.58. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> jumped 23.48 points, or 2.25 percent, to 1,066.11 -- marking its biggest one-day percentage gain in three months. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> shot up 37.94 points, or 1.84 percent, to close at 2,097.55.

(Reporting by Blaise Robinson; editing by Simon Jessop)

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