ADVFN US – Market Content Editor

The major U.S. index futures are currently pointing to a lower open on Friday, with stocks likely to extend the downward trend seen over the past several sessions. Concerns about the outlook for interest rates may continue to weigh on the markets following the release of a closely watched Labor Department report showing much stronger…

Base metals were weaker and gold flat ahead of the nonfarm payrolls, with investors aiming to gauge how the Fed will approach monetary policy this year “With the data looking more promising, yesterday saw investors grow increasingly skeptical about the likelihood of a rate cut by March,” Deutsche Bank said.

Oil prices edged higher in Europe on persisting concerns over escalating tensions in the Middle East and disruptions to global supply. “There is still plenty of tension in the Middle East with Houthi rebels launching a sea drone in the Red Sea, [while] a U.S. air strike in Baghdad killed a commander of an Iranian-backed…

The dollar rose ahead of the jobs data. Thursday’s ADP private payrolls and weekly jobless claims were better than expected and bond yields rose. “With [U.S.] money markets currently pricing 16bps of easing in March this year, there is still clearly some room for a further back-up in short-term rates,” ING said. This year’s trend…

Stock futures fell and Treasury yields continued to rise on Friday ahead of the December payrolls report. Expectations are for the Labor Department to report 170,000 nonfarm jobs were created last month, and for the unemployment rate to tick up a tenth to 3.8%. Hourly wages are seen rising by 0.3%. Economists at Goldman Sachs…

Exxon Mobil Expects Up to $2.6 Billion in Upstream Impairments Exxon Mobil is expecting up to $2.6 billion in impairments in the fourth quarter for its upstream business, mostly related to idled assets in California. New Management at Lucky Bucks Sues Former Executives, Alleges Fraud The slot machine operator formerly known as Lucky Bucks is…