Stock futures flat before June payrolls : US Business

By Walker Simon

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock futures were little changed on Thursday as oil climbed to a record and investors awaited U.S. non-farm payrolls data for June for clues whether the weak economy has moved closer to recession.

U.S. oil futures jumped nearly $2 a barrel to $145.85 before the long holiday weekend marking U.S. Independence Day on Friday.

A barrage of gloomy outlooks on the U.S. economy and corporate profits sent the Dow and Nasdaq into bear market territory Wednesday, 20 percent below their October peaks. The S&P teetered on the edge of the bear market, also pressured by warnings of bank losses, fear of surging inflation and weakening consumer confidence.

In a shortened session on Thursday, technology shares could be hurt by Nvidia Corp , the graphics chip maker, which cut its second-quarter sales and profit margins outlook late on Wednesday. Nvidia cited global market weakness, and its shares fell 23.5 percent to $13.80 after the bell.

Stock futures showed little reaction after news the European Central Bank raised interest rates by 25 basis points on Thursday, a move that had been expected to combat inflation.

The New York Stock Exchange will close at 1 p.m. EDT before the Fourth of July holiday.

Dominating investors' concern was the Labor Department's report on non-farm payrolls and the unemployment rate for June due at 8:30 a.m. EDT.

Economists polled by Reuters expect a loss of 60,000 jobs, which would mark the sixth straight month of losses, the longest streak since June 2002.

"The perception is so bearish that a statistically benign number on the jobs report could swing the market (upwards) or at least give the market a long deserved respite from the blood bath," said Andre Bakhos, president of Princeton Financial Group in Princeton, New Jersey.

S&P 500 futures were 1 point higher, about even with fair value, a mathematical formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract.

Dow Jones industrial average futures fell 1 point, and Nasdaq 100 futures fell 9 points.

On the economic calendar, the Institute for Supply Management will issue its June reading on the vast services sector at 10 a.m. EDT.

Stock markets in Asia fell on Thursday as Japan's Nikkei share index <.N225> dipped 0.2 percent, falling for an 11th day, its longest string of losses since a 15-day run in 1954.

In Europe the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares <.FTEU3> was down 0.3 percent.

On Wednesday, the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> fell 166.75 points, or 1.46 percent, to 11,215.51.

The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> lost 23.39 points, or 1.82 percent, to close at 1,261.52, while the Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> slid 53.51 points, or 2.32 percent, to end at 2,251.46.

(Editing by Kenneth Barry)

(c) Reuters 2008. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.