* Futures rise: Dow 0.31%, S&P 0.53%, Nasdaq 1.16%
* Atlassian ( TEAM ) surges after Q4 profit, revenue beat
* S&P 500, Dow set for best weekly showing since April
* July nonfarm payrolls at -23,000 versus +80,000 estimate
(Updates before markets open)
By Johann M Cherian and Shashwat Chauhan
Aug 7 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main indexes were set to
open higher on Friday after data showed the U.S. economy
unexpectedly shed jobs last month, raising doubts about a
September interest-rate hike by the Federal Reserve.
A Labor Department report showed nonfarm payrolls fell
23,000 in July, far below the 80,000 job additions that
economists polled by Reuters were expecting.
Unemployment stood at 4.1% in July, easing from 4.2% in
June. Average earnings on an annual basis rose 3.2% in July,
compared with the 3.5% economists expected.
"Even with a negative job print, the job market remains
healthy. But it gives the Fed some room to pause in September,"
said Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise
Financial.
"It has seemed like the Fed is pressing more on the
inflation front, but today's numbers may reframe that
conversation and put the labor side of the mandate in focus."
Money market data showed traders pared back expectations for
an interest-rate hike in September, with odds of an increase now
at about 20%, from 55% before the report, according to data
compiled by LSEG.
Under new Chair Kevin Warsh, the U.S. central bank has
offered investors little information on forward guidance
regarding monetary policy, sharpening the focus on economic data
and commentary from policymakers.
At 08:46 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis rose 168 points, or
0.31%, S&P 500 E-minis added 41 points, or 0.53%, and
Nasdaq 100 E-minis gained 342.75 points, or 1.16%.
Collaboration software maker Atlassian ( TEAM ) jumped 32.5%
in premarket trading while chip company Microchip Tech ( MCHP )
advanced 10.3% after both forecast quarterly revenue above
estimates.
The results also lifted broader sectors, with chip stocks
Marvell ( MRVL ) and Micron up 3.9% and 3.2%,
respectively. Software stocks also rose; Palo Alto
gained 2.3% and ServiceNow ( NOW ) added 3.5%.
Cybersecurity company Cloudflare ( NET ) gained 15.5% after
raising its full-year revenue forecast above estimates.
The main U.S. indexes were headed for strong weekly gains,
with the S&P 500 and the Dow on track for their best week since
April and the Nasdaq set for its biggest advance since May, if
gains hold.
Better-than-expected results from AI-related companies this
earnings season have propelled the Dow and the S&P 500 to fresh
record highs, while helping the Nasdaq recover from a pullback
that had briefly pushed it nearly 10% below its previous peak.
In a move to support domestic production, the White House
imposed a series of price floors and a 15% tariff on products
made from polysilicon, the raw material used in semiconductors
and solar panels that is primarily produced by China.
Solar stocks also gained. First Solar ( FSLR ) was up 5% and
SolarEdge ( SEDG ) climbed 2.1% following U.S. President Donald
Trump's trade actions to challenge Beijing's polysilicon
monopoly.
Vacation rental company Airbnb ( ABNB ) gained 7% after
beating second-quarter revenue estimates, while Trade Desk ( TTD )
dropped 29.2% after the ad-tech firm forecast
third-quarter revenue below expectations.
Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions flared after Yemen's
Iran-aligned Houthis attacked Saudi Arabia, while a report said
Iran was reviewing a preliminary bill that would bar U.S.,
Israeli and other "hostile" vessels from transiting the Strait
of Hormuz as well as impose fines of up to 20% of a ship's cargo
value for violations.