Stocks Seen Higher, Lifted by Microsoft NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures pointed to a sharply higher open on Friday, after sliding on Thursday, with a positive forecast from Microsoft Corp. (MSFT.O: Quote , Profile , Research ) , the world's largest software maker, helping to boost sentiment. Microsoft shares initially dipped after releasing its quarterly results late on Thursday, having missed its own and Wall Street's revenue targets. Shares quickly recovered, however, as investors were reassured by the company's positive outlook for its upcoming business year. No. 3 U.S. personal computer maker Gateway Inc. (GTW.N: Quote , Profile , Research ) on Thursday posted a narrower net loss on strong sales of notebook PCs and forecast more progress in the its long turnaround struggle. S&P 500 futures (SPM5: Quote , Profile , Research ) rose 7.4 points, above fair value accounting for interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract, indicating the S&P would open higher. Dow Jones industrial average futures (DJM5: Quote , Profile , Research ) were up 63 points, while Nasdaq 100 (NDM5: Quote , Profile , Research ) rose 10 points. "Microsoft is providing the catalyst that stocks need right now," said Will Armitage, senior trader at IG Index. "We're also seeing a technical bounce after yesterday's lows." Data on the overall economy will again be high on the agenda after Thursday's GDP figures showed the economy grew at its slowest pace in two years during the first quarter. The Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation, the index for personal consumption expenditures excluding food and energy -- core PCE, is due at 8:30 a.m. Investors will eye the data to see if it will tempt the Fed to pursue more aggressive interest rate hikes, which would weigh on the stock market. Shares of KLA-Tencor Corp. (KLAC.O: Quote , Profile , Research ) , the second-largest U.S. maker of semiconductor capital equipment, fell over 4 percent to $38.30 after hours when it cut its sales outlook for the current quarter. Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (HIG.N: Quote , Profile , Research ) posted a higher quarterly profit and raised its outlook for the year. U.S. stocks slid on Thursday, after a report showed the economy grew at its slowest pace in two years during the first quarter, oil nudged higher and earnings from companies including Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM.N: Quote , Profile , Research ) disappointed Wall Street. The combination of negative news sent the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq down by more than 1 percent and pushed the Nasdaq to its lowest close since October. The Dow Jones industrial average was down 128.43 points, or 1.26 percent, to end at 10,070.37. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was down 13.16 points, or 1.14 percent, to close at 1,143.22. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 26.25 points, or 1.36 percent, at 1,904.18. Quelle "Stocks Seen Higher, Lifted by Microsoft" : reuters.com Main page for "Stocks Seen Higher, Lifted by Microsoft"