*F5 Networks plunges in premarket after weak outlook. NEW YORK, April 5- U.S. stock index futures pointed to a drop of more than 1 percent at the open on Friday, following a payroll report that was much weaker than expected, the latest in a series of reports to indicate that economic growth may be losing momentum.
NEW YORK, April 5- U.S. stock index futures sharply extended losses on Friday after data showed American employers hired at the slowest pace in nine months in March, a sign that Washington's austerity drive could be stealing momentum from the economy.
*S&P 500 on track for biggest weekly decline of 2013. *F5 Networks plunges in premarket after weak outlook. NEW YORK, April 5- U.S. stock index futures fell on Friday as investors looked to the release of nonfarm payrolls data, which could be the latest in a series of reports pointing to slowing growth.
*S&P 500 on track for biggest weekly decline of 2013. *F5 Networks plunges in premarket after weak outlook. NEW YORK, April 5- U.S. stock index futures were lower on Friday as investors looked to the release of nonfarm payrolls data, which could be the latest in a series of reports pointing to slowing growth.
TOKYO, April 5- The Tokyo Stock Exchange halted trade in Japanese government bond futures twice on Friday after a sharp plunge in the wake of the Bank of Japan's massive policy overhaul in the previous session. The first trading halt came after 10- year JGB futures shed one point.
PERTH, April 5- U.S. crude futures rose on Friday in the wake of the Bank of Japan's decision to inject $1.4 trillion into the world's third largest economy, reversing widespread selling in oil markets the day before on a jump in U.S. jobless claims. *U.S. crude for May delivery had climbed 21 cents to $93.47 per barrel by 0047 GMT.
*Technical support seen near 85- to 86- cent range- broker. NEW YORK, April 4- ICE cotton fell on Thursday, as weekly U.S. government export data were not seen as strong enough to boost prices and losses across commodities markets weighed. The most-active May cotton contract on ICE Futures U.S. fell 0.89 cent, or 1 percent, to settle at 88.33 cents per pound.
*Corn market struggles to find a bottom after USDA stocks data. CHICAGO, April 4- U.S. corn futures fell to a nine-month low Thursday on continued technical selling and fund liquidation, while soybeans hit a 10- month low on worries that bird flu cases in China may slow feed demand there, traders said.
NEW YORK, April 3- Ex-Goldman Sachs Group Inc trader Matthew M. Taylor pleaded guilty on Wednesday to defrauding the Wall Street bank with an unauthorized $8.3 billion futures trade in 2007, saying he exceeded internal risk limits and lied to supervisors to cover up his activities.