08:29 AM EDT, 07/18/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were little changed pre-bell Friday as markets took a breather after new record closing highs for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq on Thursday.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up 0.1%, while S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures were flat.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 1.7% at $70.71 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 2% higher at $68.88 per barrel.

The housing starts bulletin, scheduled for release at 8:30 am ET, is expected to show an increase in housing starts to an annual rate of 1.29 million for June compared with 1.256 million previously, while permits are projected to have declined to 1.39 million for the same month from 1.394 million previously, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

The Consumer Sentiment index, due at 10 am ET, is seen coming in at 61.4 in July versus 60.7 previously.