U.S. stock futures edged higher Friday after a key U.S. inflation gauge showed tame price pressures. Trading is likely to light on the last trading day before Christmas.

All North American markets will be closed Monday while Canadian markets get a four-day weekend with the Boxing Day holiday Tuesday.

The November core personal consumption expenditure price index, believed to be the Federal Reserve’s favorite inflation gauge, was flat, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. Consensus expectations were for a 0.2% monthly rise. In the same report, the department said consumer income rose 0.3% and spending rose 0.5% in November.

In a separate report, Commerce said November durable-goods orders rose 1.9%, topping forecasts.

The University of Michigan’s final reading of consumer confidence for December will be released shortly after the start of trading.

There are no major economic releases from Statistics Canada today.

The Canadian dollar opened at US86.66¢, up 0.09 of a cent.

Crude-oil futures rose in electronic trading, up 25¢ to US$62.91 a barrel, while gold futures were a touch stronger.

In earnings news, Research In Motion shares may climb after the maker of the BlackBerry reported a 47% profit rise on 49% sales growth for the third quarter.

Red Hat, the computer-software maker, posted a stronger-than-forecast 45% third-quarter sales growth.

Memory-chip maker Micron Technology reported a tripling of its profit on 16% sales growth during the first quarter.


Overseas, Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index climbed 57.13 points, or 0.34%, to finish at 17,104.96 points on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the highest since May 9.

In Hong Kong, shares finished at a record high before a four-day Christmas holiday Friday as traders bought utilities and China-related companies heavily. The blue-chip Hang Seng Index rose 97.68 points, or 0.5%, to 19,320.52.

In Europe, the FTSE 100 was flat at midday in lacklustre London trading.

Toronto stocks moved lower Thursday, as weakness in the materials sector weighing down the broader market.

The S&P/TSX composite index dropped 45.78 points, or 0.36%, to 12,737.21.

Six of the 10 TSX main sub-groups were down, with the materials index off 1.55%.

The S&P/TSX Venture Exchange index gave up 15.75, or 0.55%, to 2,830.53.

In New York, markets moved lower on weaker than expected regional manufacturing numbers.

The Dow Jones Industrial Index fell 42.62, or 0.34%, to 12,421.25, the Nasdaq gave up 11.76, or 0.48%, to 2.415.85, and the S&P 500 lost 5.23, or 0.37%, to 1,418.30.