Stock futures rose early Friday after another record-breaking session on Wall Street as traders braced for the latest U.S. jobs report release.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials gained 79 points, or 0.3%, to 31,021.
Futures for the S&P 500 acquired 11.5 points, or 0.3%, at 3,807.
Futures for the NASDAQ Composite picked up 65.5 points, or 0.5%, to 12,723.25.
The gains come after the three major averages set record closing highs, including the NASDAQ, which jumped 2.6% to close above 13,000 for the first time. The Dow hiked 0.7% and S&P 500 rose 1.5%.
Investors will get a key piece of economic data on Friday morning when the U.S. Labor Department releases its monthly jobs report for December. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expect a meager gain of 50,000 jobs for the period, but some fear that the report could actually show a net loss of jobs after many areas reinstated economic restrictions to slow the spread of the pandemic.
In addition to the new jobs report, investors will also get new data on wholesale inventories and consumer credit on Friday to better chart the path of economic recovery.
Stocks started off the New Year with a slump on Monday, but the market has since churned higher despite the turmoil in Washington, where a riot at the Capitol on Wednesday delayed the procedural congressional confirmation of Presidential-elect Joe Biden's victory. The Dow and S&P 500 have notched three-day winning streaks.
Thursday night, President Donald Trump acknowledged for the first time that a new administration will take over on Jan. 20.
One expert said that growing clarity in Washington and the amount of cash sitting on the sidelines could lead the stocks higher, with cyclical stocks in particular benefiting.
Overseas, in Japan, the Nikkei 225 popped 2.4% Friday, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index soared 1.2%.
Oil prices increased 72 cents to $51.55 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices slid $24.40 at $1,889.20 U.S.