Stocks looking firmer before jobs report

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

U.S. stock futures were firmer, led by the S&P 500 with a gain of nearly 0.5%.

The U.S. government is set to release its monthly jobs report at 8:30 a.m. ET Friday.

Economists surveyed by CNNMoney predict the economy added 183,000 jobs in November, marking a slowdown from 204,000 jobs added in October. The unemployment rate is expected to fall to 7.2%, down from 7.3%.

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Also at 8:30, the Commerce Department will release its monthly report on personal income and spending. At 9:55, the University of Michigan and Thomson Reuters will release their consumer sentiment index.

U.S. stocks fell Thursday after good news on the health of the economy had investors worrying about when the Fed will begin dialing down its massive-bond buying program.

European markets were firmer in morning trading. Frankfurt's DAX index led the way with a gain of 0.6% after Germany's central bank raised its forecast for the country's GDP growth in 2014 to 1.7% from 1.5%.

Trading on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange was halted for five minutes at 4 a.m. ET to mark the death late Thursday of former South African President Nelson Mandela.

Asian markets ended mixed. The Nikkei rose 0.8%, supported by Japanese government plans for more economic stimulus, but the Shanghai Composite slipped 0.4%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng eked out a gain of 0.1%.

First Published: December 6, 2013: 5:21 AM ET

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