Wall Street stock futures advanced Friday ahead of a speech from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and data on the housing market.

Bernanke is due to deliver the keynote speech at a Fed retreat in Jackson Hole, Wyoming., at 10:00 ET.

Other leading central bankers from across the world will also be attending. Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney delivers a speech at the retreat on Saturday.

Data on U.S. July existing-home sales is also due at 10:00 ET.

In commodities news, the October contract was trading 96¢ higher at US$73.87 a barrel after hitting the 2009 high of US$74.05 a barrel earlier in the session.

Overseas, Japan’s Nikkei 225 stock average fell 145.21 points, or 1.4 %, to 10,238.20. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 129.84, or 0.6 %, to 20,199.02, while China’s Shanghai Composite index rose for a second day – gaining 1.7 % to 2,960.77.

In Europe, the UK’s FTSE 100 was up 0.2 % to 4,764.43. Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC 40 each gained 0.1 %.

On Thursday, Toronto stocks climbed higher o as commodity-related shares rose following a rally in Chinese stocks.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 13.68 points or 0.1%, at 10,700.51.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index climbed 7.44 points, or 0.63%, to 1,184.39.

In New York, U.S. stocks moved higher despite a disappointing report on U.S. initial jobless claims.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 70.89 points, or 0.8%, at 9,350.05,

The broader S&P 500 climbed back above the 1,000 mark, rising 10.91 points, or 1.1% to 1,007.37.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index gained 19.98 points, or 1.01% to 1,989.22.

IE

Thursday wrap: Resources lift TSX