RTRS: Futures flat ahead of retail sales, UMich data
(Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Friday, with the S&P on track for a fourth straight weekly advance, ahead of data on retail sales and consumer sentiment.
* The Dow industrials closed at a record high on Thursday, boosted by gains in Wal-Mart, but the S&P 500 was little changed as energy shares tracked crude futures prices lower.
* Investors will eye October retail sales data at 8:30 a.m. EST (1230 GMT). Expectations call for a 0.2 percent rise versus the 0.3 decline in the prior month. Also due at 8:30 a.m. is data on import prices.
* The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary November reading on consumer sentiment is expected later in the session at 9:55 a.m. (1355 GMT.) Expectations call for a reading of 87.5 versus the final October reading of 86.9.
* The S&P 500 is up 0.4 percent for the week and has rallied 9.5 percent from a six-month low in October, buoyed by supportive economic data and corporate earnings. For the year so far, it is up 10.3 percent.
* Baker Hughes (BHI.N) gained 5.5 percent to $61.95 in premarket trade. The oilfield services company said it was in preliminary merger talks with its larger rival Halliburton Co (HAL.N), which was up 2 percent to $54.85.
* Geron Corp surged 37.2 percent to $3.17 before the opening bell after it licensed its cancer compound to a Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) unit for up to $935 million.
* Hertz Global Holdings (HTZ.N) fell 1.5 percent to $22.40 in premarket after the car rental company gave its 2014 outlook and announced $100 million of cost cuts. The stock was one of the most actively traded on the New York Stock Exchange with over 140,000 shares changing hands.
* S&P 500 e-minis ESc1 were up 1.5 points, or 0.07 percent, with 142,928 contracts changing hands.
* Nasdaq 100 e-minis NQc1 were up 2.75 points, or 0.07 percent, in volume of 20,889 contracts.
* Dow e-minis 1YMc1 were up 11 points, or 0.06 percent, with 23,479 contracts changing hands.