trading in the index futures suggests that us stocks could get off to a slightly positive start on friday notwithstanding the early signals two key economic data will likely direct trading direction in the final session of the week the major averages snapped their multisession losses on thursday as weak jobless claims data encouraged traders to hope for a fed pivot it healthcare consumer discretionary and healthcare stocks found strong buying interest while energy stocks moved to the downside if the november consumer and producer price inflation readings show moderating inflation and dovish comments come out of next week’s federal open market committee meeting the trifecta would be hit paving the way for the santa claus rally daniel berkowitz senior investment strategist at prudent management associates said the analyst however is cautious about the new year “2023 offers enough uncertainties and wildcards that the gifts of a christmas rally may be quickly forgotten we still see myriad investment risks on the horizon and we do still think a moderately defensive posture is appropriate for investors across both equity and fixed income allocations” he added in premarket trading on friday the spdr sp 500 etf trust spy rose 016 to 39688 and the invesco qqq trust qqq advanced 031 to 28472 according to benzinga pro data see also best penny stocks on the economic front the labor department is due to release the producer price inflation report for november at 830 am est economists on average expect the index to show a monthovermonth increase of 02 the same pace as in october the annual rate of the ppi is expected to ease from 8 to 72 core ppi may have increased 59 yearoveryear compared to a 67 rise in october the commerce department will release the wholesale inventories report for october at 10 am est the monthovermonth change is expected to remain steady at 08 around the same time the university of michigan is scheduled to release its preliminary consumer sentiment index for december the headline index is expected to come in at 569 compared to 568 in november investors are likely to focus on the two inflation readings found in the report namely the oneyear and fiveyear inflation expectations   docusign inc climbed over 12 in premarket trading in reaction to its quarterly results   chipmaker broadcom inc advanced over 3 following the release of its quarterly results   lululemon athletica inc plunged over 650 reacting to the subpar guidance for the december quarter   li auto inc fell over 3 on earnings crude oil futures were rebounding moderately after six straight sessions of losses the recent weakness reflected demand worries amid expectations that the global economy will likely slip into a recession a barrel of wtigrade crude oil rose 076 to 72abarrel in the european session the major asiapacific markets advanced on friday encouraged by the higher close on wall street overnight hong kong’s hang seng led the gains once again as it settled 232 higher at 2790101 bucking the uptrend the indian indonesian and new zealand markets closed lower for the session european stocks rose in late morning trading on friday although the mood reflected one of caution ahead of key economic data from the us read next crazy fed rates and more elon musk chimes in on why tesla stock has lost half its marketcap in 2022