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* Futures up: Dow 0.21%, S&P 0.17%, Nasdaq 0.41%
By Ambar Warrick
May 15 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures rose on Friday
as better-than-expected industrial data from China raised hopes
of an eventual economic recovery from coronavirus-related
lockdowns.
Wall Street's main indexes ended a choppy session higher on
Thursday, with the S&P 500 rising more than 1% as investors
looked forward to the prospect of some states lifting curbs on
business and social activities.
However, all three major U.S. stock indexes were set for
their worst week since mid-March, as sobering comments on the
outbreak from major U.S. officials pointed to a longer period of
economic weakness, while worries of a renewed Sino-U.S. trade
war added to the gloom.
President Donald Trump on Thursday signaled a further
deterioration of his relationship with China over the virus
outbreak, saying he has no interest in speaking to President Xi
Jinping right now and going so far as to suggest he could even
cut ties with the world's second largest economy. At 6:08 a.m. ET, Dow e-minis 1YMcv1 were up 50 points, or
0.21%. S&P 500 e-minis EScv1 were up 4.75 points, or 0.17% and
Nasdaq 100 e-minis NQcv1 were up 37 points, or 0.41%.
Chinese industrial output rose for the first time this year
in April, indicating that certain facets of the economy would be
able to bounce back quickly from the outbreak. However, retail sales in China fell more than expected in
April, pointing to a large dent in consumption.
U.S. retail sales are also expected to mark a second
straight month of record declines in April due to the pandemic.
The Commerce Department's report is due at 8:30 a.m. ET.
Among stocks, Applied Materials Inc AMAT.O rose 4.1%
premarket as the chip gear maker said it expects supply chains
to gain strength in the second half of the year and help it
recoup sales lost due to the COVID-19 disruption. Abbott Laboratories ABT.N slipped 3% after U.S. Food and
Drug Administration said the company's speedy coronavirus test
could potentially be inaccurate, but can still be used to test
patients. SPDR S&P 500 ETFs SPY.P were up 0.2%.