* Personal spending, consumer sentiment on tap
* Market could give back after Thursday's rally
* Futures off: S&P 4 pts, Dow 41 pts, Nasdaq 4.5 pts
* For up-to-the-minute market news, click []
(Adds details, quote, byline)
By Leah Schnurr
NEW YORK, Oct 30 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures
dipped on Friday, a day after the market logged its best
percentage gain in three months, as investors await data that
will shed light on consumer sentiment.
The day's economic agenda includes the Commerce
Department's September personal income and consumption data at
8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT) as well as the final reading of
consumer sentiment for October, due at 9:55 a.m. (1355 GMT)
Stocks rallied Thursday after data showed the U.S. economy
returned to growth in the third quarter, brightening the
outlook for profits.
"I don't think it's surprising that the market looks
slightly lower following what was a pretty powerful rally
yesterday," said Rick Meckler, president of LibertyView Capital
Management in New York.
"Investors are reacting to economic and earnings reports
that show the recession has bottomed, but now the focus is
shifting to some kind of sustainable economic growth."
NYSE Euronext <NYX.N><NYX.PA> said it is selling a
"significant equity interest" in its derivatives exchange NYSE
Liffe U.S., and reported a drop in earnings. Its shares were up
1.5 percent at $28 in light premarket trading. For details, see
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Shares of McAfee Inc <MFE.N> shed 3 percent to $42.50 the
day after the security software maker reported revenue that
missed estimates as sales grew at their slowest rate in nearly
two years. []
Novatel Wireless Inc <NVTL.O> tumbled 18 percent to $10
after it warned sales of its mobile wi-fi product would be flat
to lower. []
S&P 500 futures <SPc1> slipped 4 points and were below fair
value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account
interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the
contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures <DJc1> lost 41
points, while Nasdaq futures <NDc1> dipped 4.5 points.
Among overseas firms reporting results, telecommunications
gear maker Alcatel-Lucent SA <ALUA.PA> posted its 12th straight
quarterly loss, while Sony Corp <6758.T><SNE.N> posted a loss
for the fourth consecutive quarter. But the company trimmed its
full-year loss forecast close to market expectations.
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The S&P 500 is up 57.6 percent from its 12-year closing low
on March 9, but is off 2.9 percent from its post-March peak
reached on Oct. 19.
Going into the final trading day of the month, the S&P 500
is up nearly 1 percent for October. If the index is unable to
hold onto the month's gains, it will snap a seven-month winning
streak.
(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
