Stock futures rise slightly as investors await reading on 1st-quarter economic growth

Stock futures inch higher ahead of GDP reading

NEW YORK — Stock futures are inching higher as investors take a cautious approach to trading before the government reports on economic growth in the first quarter.

The report Friday is expected to provide more evidence that the economy is recovering. Economic reports and earnings results in recent months have shown consistent improvement.

Economists polled by Thomson Reuters forecast the gross domestic product grew at a 3.4 percent annual rate in the first quarter. It would be the third straight quarterly rise in GDP.

Dow Jones industrial average futures are up 8, or 0.1 percent, at 11,143. Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures are up 1.20, or 0.1 percent, at 1,206.50, while Nasdaq 100 index futures are up 3.75, or 0.2 percent, at 2,044.75.