Futures Higher Ahead of Job Report     12/06 07:09

   U.S. stock futures are heading solidly higher for the first time this week 
before the Labor Department releases its final monthly employment report of the 
year.

   NEW YORK (AP) -- U.S. stock futures are heading solidly higher for the first 
time this week before the Labor Department releases its final monthly 
employment report of the year.

   Markets will also absorb federal data being released Friday on consumer 
borrowing and spending.

   Dow Jones industrial futures are up 57 points to 15,874. S&P futures have 
gained 7.7 points to 1,791.70. Nasdaq futures are up 12 points to 3,490.75.

   Economists expect the country added 180,000 jobs last month on the heels of 
a robust October, when employers hired 204,000 people.

   If forecasts hold true, it would actually be the fourth consecutive month of 
strong job gains, though unemployment remains uncomfortably high at 7.3 
percent. Most expect that figure to drop to 7.2 percent.

   Economists also expect Americans spent and borrowed more in October.


(KA)