Stock Futures Follow European Shares Higher

FOX Business: Capitalism Lives Here

U.S. stock-index futures ticked up Friday, extending gains in Europe on the back of stronger-than-expected eurozone data.

Today's Markets

As of 8:35 a.m. ET, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 15 points, or 0.09%, to 15994, S&P 500 futures climbed 1.5 points, or 0.07%, to 1826 and Nasdaq 100 futures gained 6.5 points, or 0.17%, to 3657.

Markets across Europe posted gains on the day amid signs the once struggling eurozone economy is staging a comeback. The 18-member currency bloc expanded at a quarter-over-quarter pace of 0.3% in the fourth quarter, topping estimates of 0.2%.

In a positive sign, "the breakdown shows consumption turning positive for the first time since 2010 and investment was the main driver," according to analysts at Nomura.

On the U.S. front, the Labor Department said export prices in January rose 0.2% from December, while economists expected prices to remain unchanged. Import prices, meanwhile, rose 0.1%, above the 0.1% fall Wall Street was looking for. Later, there are readings due out on industrial production and consumer sentiment.

The data on consumer sentiment could be particularly interesting because they'll provide the first look at how consumers are faring in February after a weaker-than-expected January retail sales report.

In corporate news, Jos. A. Bank (NYSE:JOSB) said it would buy the Eddie Bauer clothing brand from private-equity firm Golden Gate Capital.

Elsewhere, U.S. crude oil futures fell 26 cents, or 0.26%, to $100.08 a barrel. Wholesale New York Harbor gasoline slumped 0.26% to $2.77 a gallon. Gold jumped $17.20, or 1.3%, to $1,317 a troy ounce.