U.S. stock futures edge higher before jobs data

NEW YORK, Mar 10 (Reuters) U.S. stock index futures rose slightly on Friday before key February U.S. jobs data that may help determine the outlook for interest rates.

Labor Department figures may show the U.S. economy added 210,000 nonfarm jobs last month, according to economists' estimates, which would indicate steady job growth. The report is due from the Labor Department at 8:30 a.m. (1330 GMT).

On the corporate front, AnnTaylor Stores Corp. reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit. AnnTaylor shares were up 4.7 percent to .98 on the Inet electronic brokerage system, from a New York Stock Exchange close of .33.

S&P 500 futures for June were up 0.30 point, above fair value, a mathematical formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract.

Dow Jones industrial average futures for June climbed 7 points, and Nasdaq 100 futures for June were unchanged.

The jobs report will also help gauge the outlook for growth in the economy.

''The report may give a reading on the economy and, bottom line, what may happen with interest rates,'' said Andre Bakhos, president of the Princeton Financial Group. ''We are also coming from several days of declines, so a benign report may help boost stocks today.'' The Federal Reserve is expected to raise its benchmark fed funds rate from the current 4.5 percent to 5 percent this year to control inflation. Investors will also focus on the report's unemployment rate, which is expected to remain unchanged at 4.7 percent.

A consortium of private equity firms consisting of Bain Capital, Hellman&Friedman, Texas Pacific Group, and Thomas H.

Lee Partners submitted a formal offer on Thursday for newspaper publisher Knight Ridder Inc., according to sources familiar with the matter. ID:nN09359348 Online retailer Amazon.com Inc is holding talks with three Hollywood studios on creating a service to allow consumers to download movies and television programs and copy them onto DVDs, the New York Times reported on Friday. ID:nN10242852 A group of investors including Mexican broadcaster Televisa is planning to launch a bid for Spanish-language U.S. media company Univision Communications Inc., a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday. ID:nN09216311 Stocks fell on Thursday, marking the sixth day of losses, its longest streak of declines in 14 months.

REUTERS SY HS1842