Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:
1) Jobs Report
The Labor Department is posting its monthly jobs report at 8:30 a.m. ET.
Economists surveyed by CNNMoney predict that 235,000 jobs were created in February, down from 257,000 the month before. They are expecting the unemployment rate to edge down to 5.6% from 5.7% in January.
While the U.S. economy is creating more jobs overall, there's concern about the energy sector. Companies have been slashing jobs as oil prices have fallen.
Another key number to watch Friday is average hourly wage growth. In January, American wages were only going up 2.2% annually -- far below the goal of 3.5%.
2) Placid Markets
U.S. stock futures are relatively flat, which is normal ahead of the jobs report.
European markets are mixed in early trading. Asian markets also ended with mixed results. The biggest mover was the Nikkei in Japan, which jumped 1.2%.
3) Stock Market Movers -- Bank of America, Thomas Cook
Share in Bank of America (BAC) are edging up premarket after the Federal Reserve gave the bank, and 30 other major players, a clean bill of health following its latest stress tests. It's worth keeping an eye on other bank stocks, particularly Citigroup (C), which may now be able to hike its dividend and launch a share buyback.
Shares in travel company Thomas Cook (TCKGY) are surging in London by about 16% after China's Fosun International (FOSUF) announced it had bought a 5% stake in the firm, worth about £92 million ($140 million).
4) Earnings and Economics
Staples (SPLS), Big Lots (BIG) and Foot Locker (FL) are reporting ahead of the open.
Ask us about our FREE signals program:
Other top stories:
All Your Brokers and Signals in 1 Place - Binary Trade Center
Countless Already Joined and Made a Profit - What About You?
How I Made Over $30,000 a Year by Investing in Binary Options
Follow us and SHARE this story on Facebook/Twitter: