US stock futures mixed ahead of weekly jobs report
US stock futures mixed with jobs report due; retailers post sales data
In this Wednesday, April 10, 2013, photo, Specialist Patrick Kenny, left, and trader Fred Demarco, work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. World stock markets powered higher Thursday April 11, 2013 after a U.S. communications company posted a surprise jump in earnings that led to big gains in technology stocks and new highs on Wall Street. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
NEW YORK (AP) -- Stock futures are mixed with U.S. retailers posting March sales and the government set to release its weekly jobs report.
Dow Jones industrial futures are up 14 points to 14,747. S&P futures have added 0.70 points to 1,583.40. Nasdaq futures are down 4.5 points to 2,848.75.
Costco on Thursday said same-store sales rose 4 percent last month, short of Wall Street estimates. The wholesale club is citing volatile gasoline prices and foreign exchange rates.
The Labor Department is expected to report that the number of people applying for jobless benefits fell last week. Markets were jolted on Friday by a dismal jobs report for March and economists are seeking any hint about whether that was just a blip in the nation's path to a full economic recovery.
