Dec 16 (Reuters) – U.S. stock index futures turned positive on Tuesday, as investors assessed a long-delayed jobs report and prospects of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.
A Labor Department report showed nonfarm payrolls increased 64,000 in November, compared with an estimated 50,000 rise, according to economists polled by Reuters.
The unemployment rate stood at 4.6%, compared with estimates of 4.4%. Year-on-year average earnings came in at 3.5% versus estimates of 3.6%.
A separate reading from the Commerce Department also showed retail sales for October were flat, compared with an estimate of a 0.1% increase.
At 08:31 a.m., Dow E-minis were up 70 points, or 0.14%, S&P 500 E-minis were up 8.5 points, or 0.12% and Nasdaq 100 E-minis were up 32.25 points, or 0.13%.
(Reporting by Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)
