US futures down ahead of non-farm payrolls data

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to lower opening on Friday ahead of key U.S. monthly non-farm payrolls and unemployment data from the government.

Futures on the S&P 500 are down 0.37 percent, futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average are down 0.36 percent and Nasdaq100 futures are down 0.45 percent.

Investors eagerly waiting for the government's monthly nonfarm payrolls report, which is the most closely-watched economic data pertaining to the jobs market and is a key gauge for the direction and pace of the economic recovery.

The median forecast for the non-farm payrolls is a gain of 3,000 jobs in September, versus a loss of 54,000 in the previous month. Economists forecast unemployment rate to rise to 9.7 percent against 9.6 percent in August.

Non-farm employment fell by 54,000 in August as 114,000 temporary 2010 Census workers were let go by the federal government. The unemployment rate rose to 9.6 percent in August, the highest level since May, from 9.5 percent in July.

On Thursday, US stocks ended narrowly mixed in lethargic trading ahead of Friday’s non-farm payroll report as early relief over a better-than-expected initial jobless claims report evaporated, as the earnings reporting season commenced.

Alcoa kicked off the earnings season for the components on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Thursday, by reporting a better-than-expected third quarter profit.

The euro declined 0.15 percent to 1.3904 against the dollar and the yen gained 0.11 percent against the greenback.

Crude oil futures declined 0.93 percent to $80.91/barrel and gold futures fell 0.07 percent.

European stock markets are currently trading lower with FTSE 100 down by 19.86 points, DAX30 down by 14.17 points and CAC 40 down by 17.32 points.