U.S. stock market delayed ahead of July jobs report

Futures: Dow + 0.07%, S&P + 0.03%, Nasdaq down 0.13%.

Aug 6 - Trading in the U.S. stock index futures was delayed on Friday for investors to watch the jobs report for July amid concerns that rising cases of Delta Coronavirus could hurt the economic recovery.

The Labor Department's report could show nonfarm payrolls increasing in the past month by at least 1 million because of the so-called seasonal adjustment factors, which are also seen to be inflating employment at auto assembly plants and in the leisure and hospitality sector.

A negative figure would trigger a positive market reaction as it would suggest the economy is not overheating, Russ Mould, investment director of AJ Bell wrote in a client note.

Conversely a better-than-expected figure would trouble investors if it suggests that the economy is moving ahead, which would stoke fears of interest rate hikes taking place sooner than currently guided by the U.S. Federal Reserve.

The much-awaited jobs numbers come on the heels of data that showed a further decline in U.S. unemployment claims last week and a spate of strong corporate earnings reports, which helped lift the Nasdaq and S&P 500 indexes to record closes on Thursday.

All three of Wall Street's main indexes are set to end the week with nominal gains as a stronger than expected earnings season overshadowed concerns about the pace of economic growth and higher inflation.

ET, Dow e-minis were up 24 points, or 0.07%, S&P 500 e-minis were up 1.25 points, or 0.03%, and Nasdaq 100 e-mins were down 20.25 points, or 0.13%.

Zynga Inc tumbled 14.5% in premarket trading on a disappointing full-year bookings forecast and announcement of a potential acquisition worth over half a billion dollars.

U.S.-listed shares of ride-hailing service Didi Global Inc added 6.4% as Bloomberg News reported it is considering giving up control of its valuable data as part of an effort to resolve a Chinese regulatory probe?