U.S. stock futures moved lower during Thursday's evening deals (Friday AEDT) as investors awaited the release of critical nonfarm payrolls data.
By 10:20 am AEDT (11:20 pm GMT) Dow Jones Industrial Average futures and S&P 500 futures dipped 0.1% apiece, while Nasdaq 100 futures declined by 0.2%.
In after-hours deals, Lululemon Athletica surged 8.9% following robust third-quarter results. The company reported a 9% increase in net revenue to US$2.4 billion, or 8% on a constant currency basis, and issued positive guidance for the upcoming quarters.
Ulta Beauty climbed 12% after raising its annual profit forecast. The company now anticipates annual sales of $11.1 billion to $11.2 billion, up from its previous range of $11 billion to $11.2 billion.
Conversely, Smith & Wesson Brands tanked 14.2% after missing earnings and revenue expectations for its fiscal second quarter.
Investors are now focused on Friday’s jobs report, which is expected to provide insights into the health of the U.S. labour market and guide the Federal Reserve’s policy decision at its December 17-18 meeting.
Markets are expecting a significant 200,000-job increase for November compared to October's gain of just 12,000.
Major indices ended Thursday’s session lower after retreating from record highs earlier in the week. The S&P 500 is up 0.7% week-to-date, while the Nasdaq Composite has risen 2.5%. The Dow Jones, however, has dipped 0.3% over the same period.