U.S. stock index futures rose on Thursday following another string of stronger-than-expected quarterly corporate profits, a broker upgrade for General Electric Co , and fresh indications that the global economic downturn is easing.

U.S. stock futures pointed to a flat open on Tuesday after data showed April home prices in 20 U.S. cities declined, but less than expected.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a weak open on Friday with investors set to take profits after a gain of more than 2 percent in the previous session.

Worries rise that stimulus package could be held up… Ford stock rises after quarterly results… Initial jobless claims on tap… S&P 500 futures off 6.70 points, Dow futures off 52 points, Nasdaq futures off 4.75 points…

Worries over the economy and corporate earnings weigh… Focus on inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama… S&P 500 futures off 1.5 pct, Dow futures off 1.1 pct, Nasdaq futures off 1.2 pct

Fed sets target for buying mortgage-backed securities… Initial jobless claims fall more than expected… S&P 500 futures up 0.4 pct, Dow futures up 0.2 pct, Nasdaq futures off 0.3 pct

U.S. markets tumbled Friday as a global sell-off spread from Asia and Europe, as fears of a worldwide recession intensified.

“Monumental beating” is how MarketWatch is calling it this morning for U.S. stocks.

U.S. stock futures pointed to another monumental beating on Friday – with leading contracts falling as much as rules allow — as a plunge in Asia reignited concerns about the health of the global economy.

S&P 500 futures dropped 60 points to 855.20 and Nasdaq 100 futures fell 85 points to 1,168.50. Dow industrial futures fell 550 points.

All three contracts fell so much that they reached pre-specified limits that can’t be broken until pit trading opens.

Thursday’s session for U.S. stocks was erratic but generally positive, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing 172 points higher and the S&P 500 rising 11 points, though the Nasdaq Composite slipped 11 points.

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