Stock futures rose Friday as concerns about Greek debt problems wane and on signs that the economy is continuing its slow, steady recovery.
European markets were sharply higher after reassuring statements from Greece's finance minister and the head of the European Central Bank. The dollar fell against the euro as the crisis appeared to ease.
A report on wholesale inventories and sales could help push the Dow higher Friday. The report is due out at 10 a.m. EDT.
Ahead of the opening bell, Dow Jones industrial average futures rose 18, or 0.2 percent, to 10,902. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures rose 2.40, or 0.2 percent, to 1,186.10, while Nasdaq 100 index futures rose 5.00, or 0.3 percent, to 1,985.00.
A rise in oil and metal prices should provide a boost to the energy and materials sectors. Commodity prices climbed Friday on hopes demand will jump as the economy continues to improve.
Benchmark crude for May delivery rose 58 cents to $85.97 (U.S.) in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Gold rose to a three-month high, peaking at $1,157.76 an ounce. Copper flirted with the key $8,000 level and aluminum hit an 18-month high.
Bond prices dipped. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, rose to 3.91 percent from 3.89 percent late Thursday.
Overseas, Britain's FTSE 100 gained 0.7 percent, Germany's DAX index rose 0.9 percent, and France's CAC-40 jumped 1.1 percent. Japan's Nikkei stock average rose 0.3 percent.
