Australian stock index futures signal a higher opening

Before the market opened on Friday, ASX futures rose by about 0.6%, indicating that the S&P/ASX 200 Index may avoid a second consecutive weekly decline. After closing flat on Thursday, the benchmark index has fallen nearly 0.5% so far this week. Prior to the opening, Suncorp announced that it had completed its FY2027 reinsurance program and now expects to reduce its excess capital holdings. Previous data showed that the country's economy added fewer jobs in June than economists expected. U.S. stock markets were mixed: the Dow Jones Index rose 1.1%, the S&P 500 closed flat, and the Nasdaq Composite Index fell 0.8%.