08:02 AM EST, 02/07/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were little changed pre-bell Friday ahead of the crucial January jobs report.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gained 0.04%, while S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures flatlined.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 0.5% at $74.69 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 0.6% higher at $71.03 per barrel.

The January jobs report, scheduled for release at 8:30 am ET, is expected to show a 169,000 increase in nonfarm payrolls in January following a 256,000 gain in the preceding month. The unemployment rate is expected to remain steady at 4.1% for the month, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

The Consumer Sentiment index, due at 10 am ET, is seen coming in at 71.9 in February versus 71.1 in January.