Stock Futures Rise as Traders Mull Data

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U.S. stock-index futures ticked higher on Friday as traders parsed through data showing consumer spending climbed in February.

Today's Markets

As of 8:38 a.m. ET, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures climbed 32 points, or 0.2%, to 16214, S&P 500 futures rose 5 points, or 0.29%, to 1846 and Nasdaq 100 futures advanced 13 points, or 0.37%, to 3567.

The markets have spent much of the week zigzagging, although the S&P 500 is set to close the week with mild losses.

On the economic calendar, there are two reports out on the consumer.

The Commerce Department reported consumer spending rose 0.3% in February, matching Wall Street views, while personal income rose by the same margin, slightly higher than the 0.2% increase analysts expected.

A private report from Reuters and the University of Michigan could show consumer sentiment having risen slightly in late March from earlier in the month.

The economy appears to be recovering from its winter doldrums.

On the corporate front, BlackBerry (NASDAQ:BBRY) shares shot higher after the struggling smartphone maker posted a significantly narrower quarterly loss than expected. SAC Capital's Steve Cohen upped his stake in Zynga (NASDAQ:ZNGA) to 5.3%.

Elsewhere, U.S. crude oil futures rose 28 cents, or 0.28%, to $101.57 a barrel. Wholesale New York Harbor gasoline dipped 0.05% to $2.941 a gallon. Gold fell $1.30, or 0.1%, to $1,293 a troy ounce.