Wall Street looks to data, earnings
U.S. stock index futures indicated a flat to slightly higher open on Friday, with traders keenly anticipating the release of economic data for any signs of softness that would reinforce the pervading view that the Fed is on hold for now.

Stocks surged Thursday amid speculation the Fed would not hike rates until sometime next year, with weak economic reports feeding that view.

The market got a nudge from a comment by New York Fed President Bill Dudley, who said he would favor a rate hike this year, but it depends on the strength of the economy. He then added that recent data indicates the economy is slowing.

On the data front, industrial production declined 0.2 percent in September, with capacity utilization at 77.5 percent.

Consumer sentiment and the job openings and labor turnover survey, or JOLTs, released at 10:00 a.m.