09:01 AM EDT, 07/05/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were flat before Friday's opening bell as traders digested the pivotal monthly employment report.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures and S&P 500 futures both increased 0.1%, while Nasdaq futures were up 0.2%.

Oil prices were little changed, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 0.02% at $87.47 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 0.2% higher at $84.01 per barrel.

Nonfarm payrolls, released at 8:30 am ET, increased by 206,000 in June versus estimates compiled by Bloomberg for a smaller 190,000 gain. The unemployment rate came in at 4.1% for the month, compared with estimates for a no change at 4%.

In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei flatlined, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 1.3% lower, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 0.3% lower. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 gained 0.03%, and Germany's DAX index rose 0.7% in Europe's early afternoon session.

In equities, shares of Macy's (M) were 7% higher pre-bell following a media report about a buyout offer from Arkhouse Management and Brigade Capital Management.

On the losing side, NIO (NIO) stock was down 2.7% after the company said its Chief Financial Officer Steven Wei Feng stepped down from the role.