U.S. stocks headed for a higher open on Friday as investors bet news of the the deepest cut in U.S. nonfarm payrolls in 34 years last month would spur Washington to act quickly on delivering an economic stimulus. U.S. nonfarm payrolls in January were slashed the most since December 1974 as the recession deepened, sending the national unemployment rate to 7.6 percent. For full story on employment report see [ID:nN06435445]. "I think these numbers put added urgency to the package in Washington," said Subodh Kumar, chief investment strategist at Subodh Kumar & Associates in Toronto. "I think the unemployment rate will create urgency to get something through now rather than a more balanced package later." S&P 500 futures SPc1 rose 6.30 points and were above fair value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures DJc1 climbed 64 points, and Nasdaq 100 NDc1 futures were up 10.50 points. Stocks likely to underpin the market after the opening included technology shares, with bellwether Apple Inc (AAPL.O) inching higher before the open. Financial shares were also set to gain, with Bank of America (BAC.N) up 9.3 percent to $5.29 after an influential bank analyst said the stock was a strong "buy." Lawmakers are set to resume work on Friday on a stimulus measure, a day after U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid abruptly halted debate on a $937 billion rescue bill late on Thursday. U.S. President Barack Obama has urged members of the Senate as well as the House of Representatives to resolve their differences and get a final bill to him within a week or so.

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