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U.S. stock index futures were slightly higher Friday as investors digest growth data out of China and wrap up a week in which equities reached record highs.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials gained 68 points, or 0.2%, early Friday to 28,308.
Futures for the S&P 500 jumped 7.25 points, or 0.2%, at 3,323.75.
Futures for the NASDAQ Composite hiked 32.75 points, or 0.4%, to 9,166.25.
U.S. stocks rose to fresh highs on Thursday amid stronger-than-expected results from Morgan Stanley. Meanwhile, on the tech front, Microsoft rose to record levels and Alphabet, the parent company of Google, reached a market cap of $1 trillion for the first time.
Schlumberger reported Friday quarterly earnings that beat analyst expectations, sending the stock up more than 2% in the pre-market.
CSX’s earnings also beat expectations, but the stock slid more than 3% before the bell.
Investors will be monitoring new housing starts and building permits due in the U.S. Industrial production figures are set to be published this morning, likewise, consumer sentiment as well as the latest JOLTS report.
China’s economy grew by 6.1% in 2019, data released overnight showed. That matched economist expectations. However, that was the slowest growth rate for the Chinese economy since 1990 and a decline from 2018's 6.6% expansion.
Overseas, in Japan, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.5% Friday, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index tacked on 0.6%
Oil prices added 27 cents to $58.79 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices was lifted 10 dollars to $1,560.50 U.S. an ounce.
