(By Balaseshan) U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on the Wall Street, after a data showed that employers in America hired more workers than expected last month despite an unexpected rise in the unemployment rate.
Mini Dow Industrial Average futures added 128 points to 12,959. The Nasdaq futures gained 27.50 points to 2,646. Standard and Poor's 500 futures rose 12.20 points lower to 1,374.1.
The European Central Bank's (ECB) President Mario Draghi said the central bank "may undertake outright open market operations" to stabilize borrowing costs for euro zone countries through bond purchases. His comments fell short of market expectations after Draghi had last week said the central bank could do whatever is needed to protect the beleaguered euro. The ECB kept the key interest rate on hold at 0.75 percent, as expected.
On Thursday, U.S. stocks ended lower, extending its losses for the fourth straight day, after the European Central Bank's (ECB) remarks to solve the euro zone debt woes disappointed investors who were hoping for a more definitive plan.
On the domestic data front, the U.S. non-farm payrolls report showed that just 163,000 jobs were added in July, exceeding economists forecast of addition of 100,000 jobs. Private non-farm payrolls showed 172,000 jobs were added in July, higher than economists estimate of 110,000 jobs. However, unemployment rate rose to 8.3 percent from 8.2 percent.
Hot Stocks Of The Day: PG, LNKD, OPEN, MELI, EOG, ZIP, VIAB
In corporate news, Procter & Gamble Co (NYSE:PG) rose 1.87 percent in premarket after the consumer-products giant reported a 45 percent jump in quarterly earnings due to the gain on sale of the Snacks business. Despite revenue missing consensus marginally, earnings exceeded Street's expectations.
Linkedin Corp. (NYSE:LNKD) gained 10.91 percent in premarket after the professional network posted in line quarterly earnings on higher revenue. The company increased full year 2012 revenue outlook above Street's view.
OpenTable Inc. (NASDAQ:OPEN) jumped 18.51 percent in premarket after the dining reservation network provider posted better than anticipated second quarter results.
MercadoLibre Inc. (NASDAQ:MELI) shares advanced 15.00 percent in premarket after the e-commerce company's second quarter results topped market expectations.
EOG Resources Inc. (NYSE:EOG) added 4.56 percent in premarket after the oil and gas explorer's better than expected second quarter results on strong production. The company also raised its production guidance for the fiscal 2012.
Zipcar Inc. (NASDAQ:ZIP) plunged 34.62 percent in premarket after the car sharing network operator guided third quarter and full year 2012 forecast below consensus. The company also posted wider than expected second quarter loss.
Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ:VIAB) fell tumbled 2.90 percent in premarket after the entertainment content company posted lower than expected third quarter results due to mix of Filmed Entertainment titles and lower advertising revenue.
Global Markets:
European markets traded positive, with Germany's DAX climbing 2.32 percent to trade at 6,759.38. France's CAC40 jumped 2.45 percent at 3,311.75. U.K.'s FTSE 100 gained 1.51 percent to trade at 5,748.08.
Among Asian markets, China's Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index gained 1.02 percent to finish at 2,132.80. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 1.13 percent to end at 8,555.11. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declined 0.12 percent to end at 19,666.18. India's BSE Sensex finished at 17,197.93, down 0.15 percent.
Market Scan:
Ahead of the opening bell, crude oil futures added 1.22 percent to $88.19 per barrel. Gold futures shed 0.22 percent to $1,596.600 per ounce.
In the currency market, the euro gained 0.60 percent against the U.S. dollar at 1.2253 and the British pound added 0.32 percent against the greenback to 1.5564. The dollar edged 0.01 percent higher against the Japanese yen to 78.2500.