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* The Dow industrials closed at a record high on
Thursday, boosted by gains in Wal-Mart, but the S&P 500 was
little changed as energy shares tracked crude futures prices
lower.
* Investors will eye October retail sales data at 8:30 a.m. EST
(1230 GMT). Expectations call for a 0.2 percent rise versus the
0.3 decline in the prior month. Also due at 8:30 a.m. is data on
import prices.
* The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary
November reading on consumer sentiment is expected later in the
session at 9:55 a.m. (1355 GMT.) Expectations call for a reading
of 87.5 versus the final October reading of 86.9.
* The S&P 500 is up 0.4 percent for the week and has rallied 9.5
percent from a six-month low in October, buoyed by supportive
economic data and corporate earnings. For the year so far, it is
up 10.3 percent.
* Baker Hughes <BHI.N> gained 3.5 percent to $60.80 in premarket
trade after the oilfield services company said it is in
preliminary merger talks with its larger rival Halliburton Co <HAL.N>.
* Geron Corp surged 46.3 percent to $3.38 before the opening
bell after it licensed its cancer compound to a Johnson &
Johnson <JNJ.N> unit for up to $935 million.
* In Europe, FTSEurofirst 300 <.FTEU3> declined after growth
data showed regional economies continue to struggle. Asian
stocks fell following fresh signs of slowing Chinese growth. [.EU]
* S&P 500 e-minis <ESc1> were up 0.25 point, or 0.01 percent,
with 128,260 contracts changing hands.
* Nasdaq 100 e-minis <NQc1> were up 3.25 points, or 0.08
percent, in volume of 18,433 contracts.
* Dow e-minis <1YMc1> were up 4 points, or 0.02 percent, with
21,513 contracts changing hands.
(Editing by Bernadette Baum)
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