Investors want to see if the preliminary April reading for the Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index will offer insight into the mind-set of the consumer amid a slowdown in the economy. A big drop in consumer confidence could unnerve Wall Street as consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of U.S. economic activity.

Investors are likely still examining a disappointing forecast from Microsoft Corp. The tech leader said after the closing bell Thursday that worldwide sales next year should offset weakness in the U.S. economy. Still, investors appeared unimpressed by Microsoft's forecast for the current quarter and its revenue figures.

But investors seemed to look past some of their concerns early Friday, sending stock futures higher as the dollar showed strength again against other major currencies.

Dow Jones industrial average futures rose 51, or 0.40 percent, to 12,882. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures advanced 6.00, or 0.43 percent, to 1,392.00, and Nasdaq 100 index futures rose 4.50, or 0.23 percent, to 1,925.25.