* U.S. stock index futures pointed to a mixed start on Wall Street on Friday ahead of U.S. CPI figures and earnings news from Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and JC Penney (JCP.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz). At 0900 GMT, futures for the SPc1 were up 0.1 percent, the DJc1 were down 0.04 percent and the NDc1 were down 0.1 percent. * European shares rose in early trade on Friday, amid growing confidence of a global economic rebound, with banks and miners the major gainers. At 0900 GMT, the FTSEurofirst index was up 0.4 percent at 951.98 points. * Abercrombie & Fitch is due to report an earnings per share loss of 0.03 cents in the second quarter, compared to a gain of 87 cents a year earlier, according to a Reuters survey of 27 analysts. * JC Penney is due to report an earnings per share loss of 0.01 cents in the second quarter, compared to a gain of 52 cents a year earlier, according to a Reuters survey of 13 analysts. * At 1230 GMT is the release of U.S. CPI figures for July. Economists in a Reuters survey expect CPI to be unchanged compared with a 0.7 percent increase in June. Excluding volatile food and energy items, CPI is expected to rise 0.1 percent versus a 0.2 percent increase in June. * The Federal Reserve releases industrial production and capacity utilisation data for July at 1315 GMT. Economists in a Reuters survey expect a 0.3 percent rise in production and a reading of 68.3 percent for capacity utilisation. In June, production fell 0.4 percent and capacity utilisation was 68.0 percent. * At 1355 GMT is the release of the Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers preliminary August consumer sentiment index. Economists in a Reuters survey expect a reading of 68.5 compared with 66.0 in the final July report. * Shares of retailer Nordstrom (JWN.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) fell 2.7 percent to $28.95 while shares of software company Autodesk Inc (ADSK.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) dipped 2.3 percent to $23.65 after the closing bell on Thursday after the companies reported results. [ID:nWNBB5327] [ID:nN13261901] * King Pharmaceuticals Inc (KG.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) shares rose 2 percent to $10.79 in extended trade on Thursday after the Food and Drug Administration approved its Embeda product for the management of moderate to severe chronic pain. [ID:nWNBB5296] * Shares of Elizabeth Arden Inc (RDEN.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) declined 4.1 percent after the closing bell on Thursday after the company reported results. For details, see [ID:nWNBB5320] * A group of employees in General Motors investment management unit Promark Global Advisors, where top earners make $2 million to $3 million a year, are coming under sharp scrutiny by the Obama administration's pay czar, Kenneth Feinberg, reported the New York Times. * It has been 15 years since Marc Andreessen developed the Netscape Internet browser that introduced millions of people to the Internet. Now a prominent financier, Andreessen is backing a start-up called RockMelt, that is building a new Internet browser, reported the New York Times. * U.S. stocks rose on Thursday as better-than-expected earnings by Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) helped offset disappointing government numbers on retail sales and jobs. The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI rose 36.58 points, or 0.39 percent, to 9,398.19. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX gained 6.92 points, or 0.69 percent, to 1,012.73. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC added 10.63 points, or 0.53 percent, to 2,009.35. (Reporting by Joanne Frearson; Editing by Jon Loades-Carter)

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