U.S. stock index futures declined Friday after a disappointing Chinese trade report and following a five-day winning streak on the S&P 500.
China's July exports rose just 1 percent from a year earlier, disappointing estimates by a wide margin and adding expectations that the Chinese central bank will take further policy stepsto support an economy that has seen declining growth for six-consecutive quarters.
The S&P 500 closed above 1,400 for a third day in the previous session, logging a five-day rally as investors continue to bet a soft global economy will trigger intervention from central banks around the world.
Also on the economic front, import prices fell 0.6 percent in July for the fourth straight month, according to the Labor Department. Analysts had expected a gain of 0.1 percent. The unexpected decline could give the Federal Reserve more reason to ease monetary policy.
JCPenney tumbled after the retailer reported a wider-than-expected quarterly loss and added it won't meet its previous 2012 earnings guidance.
Nvidia rallied after the chipmaker beat quarterly results and handed in a better-than-expected current-quarter revenue guidance. In addition, at least 13 brokerages boosted their price targets on the firm.