Stock Futures Higher Ahead of GDP NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Friday, as investors showed optimism ahead of a key economic report due later this morning. With earnings season winding down, executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles International Inc. (HSII.O: Quote , Profile , Research ) posted a fourth-quarter profit that beat Wall Street expectations. Clear Channel Communications Inc. (CCU.N: Quote , Profile , Research ) , the nation's largest radio station chain, posted a quarterly profit but took a $5 billion charge for a change in accounting principle. MCI Inc. (MCIP.O: Quote , Profile , Research ) , the No. 2 U.S. long-distance telephone company and the target of a takeover battle between Qwest Communications International Inc. (Q.N: Quote , Profile , Research ) and Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ.N: Quote , Profile , Research ) , reported a fourth-quarter net loss. Late Thursday, Qwest modified its $8 billion bid for MCI by adding protection against a drop in its stock price and giving a faster cash payout. In other merger news, the Wall Street Journal reported that the boards of Federated Department Stores Inc. (FD.N: Quote , Profile , Research ) and May Department Stores Co. (MAY.N: Quote , Profile , Research ) were due to finalize terms of a merger in the next two days, which could be worth over $10 billion. S&P 500 futures (SPH5: Quote , Profile , Research ) rose 1.5 points, above fair value accounting for interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract. Dow Jones industrial index futures (DJH5: Quote , Profile , Research ) were up 11 points, while Nasdaq 100 (NDH5: Quote , Profile , Research ) futures climbed 4.5 points higher. Wall Street is awaiting the gross domestic product figures, a key gauge into the health of the U.S. economy. "The big numbers are the revisions to 4th quarter GDP, which are expected to go up. That should lift spirits," said Mike Lenhoff, chief strategist at Brewin Dolphin Securities Ltd. "At the same time, I think people will be watching those numbers and asking, 'what does this mean for inflation? What does this mean for interest rates?"' Analysts expect the data to show gross domestic product grew by 3.7 percent in the last three months of 2004, instead of an initial 3.1 percent. Federal Reserve Governor Ben Bernanke said in overnight comments the figure could be as high as 4 percent. The numbers are due at 8:30 a.m. (1330 GMT). Oil held above $51 a barrel as top OPEC producer Saudi Arabia appeared increasingly at ease with higher prices, although the International Energy Agency said prices were too high and would hurt the economy.     Continued ... Quelle "Stock Futures Higher Ahead of GDP" : reuters.com Main page for "Stock Futures Higher Ahead of GDP"