US pre-open: Wall Street set for higher start
Stocks look set to try and make another attempt at a positive close at the end of the week following five consecutive down sessions.
As of 1400 BST, the Dow Jones Industrials mini futures contract was rising by 129 points to 42,823.0, alongside a 19.25 point advance to 5,935.75 whilst the Nasdaq-100 was gaining 84.50 points to 21,252.0.
The US dollar spot index and yields on benchmark 10-year US Treasury note yields were lower alongside, but WTI oil futures were up a tad.
In the spotlight was news that the outgoing Biden administration had blocked the proposed $14.1bn takeover of US Steel by Japanese rival Nippon Steel.
On the economic calendar for Friday, at 1500 BST the Institute for Supply Management would release its factory sector Purchasing Managers' Index for December.
The consensus forecast was calling for a reading of 48.4.