* Feb payrolls report due, 185,000 jobs seen added
* Crude rises as Libyan rebels near major oil terminal
* Futures: Dow up 15 pts, S&P up 1.6 pts, Nasdaq off 1.5
* For up-to-the-minute market news see []
(Adds quote, analyst comment on semiconductors)
By Ryan Vlastelica
NEW YORK, March 4 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were
mostly unchanged on Friday as upbeat labor market data earlier
this week fed investor optimism about the upcoming February
payrolls report.
Data showing robust private-sector hiring and an
unexpectedly sharp decline in jobless claims have reinforced
confidence that the report will be strong. Bets on big gains in
payrolls pushed Wall Street to its best one-day rally in three
months on Thursday.
The report, due at 8:30 a.m. EST (1330 GMT), was expected
to show 185,000 jobs added in February, a nine-month high,
while the unemployment rate was seen rising to 9.1 percent from
9 percent. In January, 36,000 jobs were added, fewer than had
been anticipated. For a preview, see []
"Anything less than 180,000 is going to be disappointing,
while a read above 200,000 will be seen as clear vindication
that the economy is moving forward on a stronger path," said
John Brady, senior vice president at MF Global in Chicago.
Brady added that given high expectations and recent stock
gains, "we might need to see something north of 250,000 to see
a rally on the number."
The ongoing strife in Libya and its impact on oil prices
will be another focus for investors as fighting intensified and
rebels advanced toward a major oil terminal.
U.S. April crude rose nearly 1 percent and remained above
$100 per barrel while Brent crude futures also was up about 1
percent following a pause in recent gains on Thursday.
[]
"Gradual changes in crude today won't have too much of an
impact today since unless something changes, oil will be taking
a backseat to jobs," Brady said.
S&P 500 futures <SPc1> were up 1.6 points and above 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> added 15
points, and Nasdaq 100 futures <NDc1> slipped 1.5 points.
Data on January durable goods and factory orders will be
released at 10 a.m. EST (1500 GMT), with factory orders seen
rising 2 percent. There are no major companies scheduled to
report quarterly results on Friday.
Dow component Wal-Mart Stores Inc <WMT.N> raised its annual
dividend by 21 percent late Thursday. []
Robert W. Baird upgraded Intel Corp <INTC.O> and other
semiconductor stocks, expecting order trends for semiconductors
in personal computers and wireless infrastructure to rebound in
the second half of 2011. []
A federal judge said late Thursday he would approve the
bankruptcy plan for the "Old GM," wrapping up one of the most
complex Chapter 11 cases in U.S. history and paving the way for
a distribution of General Motors Co <GM.N> stock and warrants
to creditors. []
Optimism ahead of the payrolls report gave Wall Street its
second straight day of gains on Thursday, though on weak
volume, and the put-to-call ratio in the options market didn't
change much as traders continued to hedge against a potential
drop in the market.
(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
