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| Futures are pointing to a modestly lower open for the Friday session as U.S. stocks were poised for a weekly loss stemming from Thursday's sell-off. This morning's May employment report - due out at 8:30 a.m. ET - could well determine whether the Street's major averages avoid a second straight week of losses. (CNBC) |
| Hackers may have obtained the personal information of four million current and former federal employees in a massive data breach involving the agency that handles security clearances and employee records. U.S. officials are investigating whether Chinese hackers were involved. China dismissed the accusations that the attack originated in its country. (CNBC) |
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| Crude oil futures were lower Friday morning ahead of an OPEC meeting at which the organization of oil exporters is expected to keep production steadyat roughly 30 million barrels a day, or about 2 million barrels more than is needed. Benchmark crude prices have fallen in three of the last four sessions. (Reuters) |
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| Greece has put off a scheduled payment to the International Monetary Fund due Friday, opting to lump four installments into a single 1.6 billion euro transaction at the end of June. The delay buys Greece time to negotiate a package of reforms that European creditors are demanding in return for continued financial support. (Reuters) |
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| Facebook is releasing a stripped-down version of its app for Android called Facebook Lite in a bid to capitalize on emerging markets. The company began testing the app in January and is rolling it out in Asia, with a launch in parts of Latin America, Europe and Africa to follow. (CNBC) |
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| Yahoo is shuttering Yahoo Maps and a number of services as it focuses on search and digital content. Yahoo will also pare back support for its Mail app for older iPhones, close its Philippines portal and end its music and movies services in some European countries. (Reuters) |
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| Costco has been subpoenaed by the federal government concerning itsprescriptions for controlled substances. The U.S. Attorney's office has said it believes the company has violated several civil regulations in its handling of controlled substances. The warehouse retailer said it is cooperating. (WSJ) |
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| An advisory panel to the FDA on Thursday voted to approve a drug to treat low female sexual desire marketed by Sprout Pharmaceuticals. The panelstressed the need for strict measures to ensure patients know the drug's risks. (Reuters) |
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Tornadoes and thunderstorms caused havoc across Colorado Thursdayevening and overnight. Severe storms also hit Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming, and the Southeast remained dogged by thunderstorms. (Weather Channel)
 | BY THE NUMBERS |
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| Consensus forecasts for the May jobs report call for nonfarm payroll gains of 225,000 for May, compared to 223,000 in April. The unemployment rate is expected to remain steady at 5.4 percent, with average hourly earnings increasing by 0.2 percent. |
| Investors will also be watching a speech by New York Fed President William Dudley at 12:30 p.m. ET in Minneapolis, as he comments on the current state of the economy and its implications for monetary policy. |
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| STOCKS TO WATCH |
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| Gap is among our stocks to watch, with the apparel retailer reporting a 1 percent drop in May same-store sales. That performance, however, was better than the 2.4 percent drop analysts had been predicting. Sales are still dropping at Gap and Banana Republic stores, although the company's Old Navy brand is seeing sales increase more than expected. |
| Zumiez reported adjusted quarterly profit of 12 cents per share, matching estimates, with revenue also in line, but the action sports retailer alsoforecast current quarter profits that fall below analyst estimates. It also sees same-store sales falling three to five percent. |
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| Monsanto is working to address concerns expressed by Syngenta (SYT) about a possible Monsanto takeover, according to a Reuters report. The report said Monsanto is expected to increase its bid by ten percent. |
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