07:59 AM EDT, 05/02/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were higher pre-bell Friday ahead of the April employment report.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gained 0.5%, S&P 500 futures increased 0.4%, and Nasdaq futures were up 0.3%.

Oil prices were lower, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude down 0.8% at $61.58 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 1% lower at $58.65 per barrel.

The April employment report, scheduled for release at 8:30 am ET, is expected to show a 138,000 growth in payrolls following a 228,000 increase in the preceding month, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg. The unemployment rate is expected to remain steady at 4.2%.

US factory orders, due at 10 am ET, is expected to show a 4.4% increase for March following a 0.6% uptick in February.