Investing.com -- U.S. stock futures edge higher with markets preparing for the release of the much-anticipated April U.S. jobs market report. Apple shares and private equity group Apollo reportedly submit a bid for Paramount Global, sending shares in the entertainment group into the green on Thursday.U.S. futures traded higher on Friday, as investors digested earnings from tech giant Apple and looked ahead to a fresh monthly U.S. labor market report.
In greater China, a market that has been a central focus for investors, sales fell 8% to $16.37B, amid rising competition from smartphone rivals in the country. Analysts had forecast revenue in China falling to $15.25B. Economists expect April's nonfarm payrolls to come in at 238,000, down from 303,000 in March. The unemployment rate, meanwhile, is seen at 3.8%, matching the prior month. The rate of average hourly earnings growth is also projected to remain at 0.3% month-on-month.