The US stock futures on Friday found themselves in a state of stasis as investors patiently awaited the final monthly jobs report of the year. This report holds significant importance as it serves as a crucial test for the prospects of interest-rate cuts in December and beyond. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) and the S&P 500 futures (ES=F) showed minimal changes after drifting away from their all-time highs at the close of Thursday. Simultaneously, the contracts on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) also traded in a relatively flat manner.

Wall Street's Wait and the Jobs Report's Impact

Wall Street is currently on hold, eagerly awaiting the November jobs report to determine whether it aligns with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's view that the US economy is in a favorable position. There is an expectation of a post-hurricane rebound in payrolls, as recent data has indicated a cooling but not collapsing labor market. The hope is for a "Goldilocks" reading - one that is strong enough to alleviate concerns about the economy while still leaving the Fed with options to lower rates this month and into the next year.The much-anticipated report is scheduled for release at 8:30 a.m. ET and is expected to show nonfarm payrolls rising by 215,000 in November, with the unemployment rate remaining steady at 4.1%. Economists believe that a print meeting these expectations is unlikely to significantly impact rate-cut calculations. On Friday, according to the CME FedWatch Tool, markets were pricing in a 68% chance of the Fed lowering rates by a quarter percentage point on December 18.

Bitcoin's Rally and Investor Hedging

The rally in bitcoin (BTC-USD) has shown signs of slowing down. The cryptocurrency slipped to trade around $98,000. Options suggest that some investors are hedging against a deeper pullback after the leading token achieved a record-breaking surge to over $100,000 for the first time. This rally has been fueled by hopes of support for digital currencies from President-elect Donald Trump. On Thursday, he named former PayPal (PYPL) COO David Sacks as his "White House AI & Crypto Czar."

Corporate Performance and Pre-Market Trading

On the corporate front, shares of Lululemon (LULU) and Ulta Beauty (ULTA) witnessed significant jumps in premarket trading. Both retailers had boosted their profit forecasts, indicating positive momentum in their respective businesses. This shows that despite the overall market uncertainty, some companies are able to deliver strong results and gain investor confidence.In conclusion, the US stock futures and the upcoming jobs report are closely watched by investors. The outcome of the report will likely have a significant impact on market sentiment and the future direction of interest rates. Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency market and individual companies are also making their own moves, adding to the complexity and volatility of the financial landscape.