US stock market index futures maintained losses on Friday as investors reassessed inflation readings that were mostly sufficient to determine the timing of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy easing.
A US Commerce Department report showed the personal spending index rose by 0.2% month-on-month in December, in line with the expectations of economists polled by Reuters. Annually, it increased by 2.6%.
The core figure, which excludes volatile items such as food and energy – the Fed's preferred inflation gauge – rose 0.2% on a monthly basis, compared with an expected 0.2% increase. In annual terms, it increased by 2.9%, compared to an estimated increase of 3%.
Dow Index e-minis were down 96 points or 0.25%, S&P 500 e-minis were down 9.25 points or 0.19%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 88.25 points or 0.5%.
The US dollar index which measures the US dollar against six major currencies was traded down 0.34% to a trading level of 103.017.
