(Updates with economic data, recent oil price movement, world markets' overview and corporate stock movements.)

US equity futures were higher pre-bell Friday as traders observed oil prices declining and evaluated the jobs report for September.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.9% higher, S&P 500 futures were up 0.8%, and Nasdaq futures were 1.1% higher.

The US is urging European countries to release diesel supplies with haste, according to a post on X by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. "American farmers, truckers, and businesses should not be left carrying the burden of a global diesel shortage," Bessent said.

President Donald Trump is still considering banning diesel exports as a way to manage high energy prices, multiple media outlets reported.

Oil prices were lower, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude down 2.7% at $99.56 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 3.7% lower at $89.41 per barrel.

The September national unemployment rate was reported at 4.2%, up from 4.1% in the prior month and above expectations of 4.1% according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000, well below the 90,000 jobs increase expected in a Bloomberg survey.

August factory orders, due at 10 am ET, are expected to have gained 0.2%, compared with an increase of 0.9% previously.

Federal Reserve Dallas President Lorie Logan is slated to speak on Friday.

In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 0.9% lower, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 2.6% lower. China's Shanghai Composite was closed for a public holiday. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was up 0.3%, and Germany's DAX index was 1.1% higher in Europe's early afternoon session.

In equities, Broadcom (AVGO) shares were up 1.8% after a Bloomberg report that the company's financiers will soon seek $60 billion in borrowings to help fund access to chips by AI modelers and others. Moderna (MRNA) stock was 0.5% higher after Nasdaq said the company will join the Nasdaq-100 Index effective prior to market open on Oct. 9. Vylor (VYLR) shares rose 4.2% after S&P Dow Jones Indices said the company was added to the S&P 500 Index Thursday following its spinoff by Corteva (CTVA).

On the losing side, Nike (NKE) stock was down 7.9% after the company reported late Thursday lower fiscal Q1 earnings and revenue. Multiple financial firms also downgraded the company's stock.