Stock futures modestly higher as investors await details of potential Greece rescue package

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Stock futures in narrow range ahead of opening

Stock futures traded in a narrow range Friday, a day after the Dow Jones industrial average finished higher for an eighth straight day.

Overseas markets gained, despite renewed concerns about economic troubles in Greece. The country says it might need international assistance to resolve its debt crisis.

With no major economic reports due Friday, traders will have to look elsewhere for guidance on the state of the economic recovery.

Ahead of the market opening, Dow Jones industrial average futures were up 11, or less than 0.1 percent, to 10,728. Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures rose 1.50, or 0.1 percent, to 1,162.80, while Nasdaq 100 index futures gained 3.25, or 0.2 percent, to 1,945.00.

Data from earlier in the week showed that the economy continues to slowly regain its strength.

Inflation remains in check, manufacturing is growing and the Labor Department said jobless claims fell only slightly last week. All suggest the economy will recover slowly.

The Dow has risen for the past eight straight days, its longest streak of gains since August. The Dow gained nearly 46 points Thursday to finish at its highest level of the year, while broader indexes were little changed.

Before Friday’s opening, aircraft maker Boeing Co. said it will speed up production plans for its 777 and 747 models in anticipation of greater demand from commercial airlines. The ramp-up was originally planned early 2012. Boeing shares rose more than 2 percent to $72.70 in premarket trading.

Palm Inc. reported late Thursday a wider than expected quarterly loss, and warned about its current quarter sales. The company said its having a difficult time getting consumers to pay attention to its phones in a market dominated by iPhones and BlackBerrys.

Renewed concern about economic troubles in Greece kept market gains in check. The country said it might turn to the International Monetary Fund for support if European leaders can’t agree to a bailout plan next week. For the past two months, worries about Greece’s debt have toyed with the market.

Still, global markets advanced Friday after Britain’s Lloyds Banking Group PLC said it expects to report a profit this year. The part-nationalized bank said trading has so far been strong and provisions for bad assets are not as large as previously forecast.

Overseas, Japan’s Nikkei stock average rose 0.8 percent. In afternoon trading, Britain’s FTSE 100 was up 0.7 percent, Germany’s DAX index was up 0.4 percent, and France’s CAC-40 was up 0.6 percent.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, rose to 3.70 percent from 3.68 percent late Thursday. The yield on the three-month T-bill, considered one of the safest investments, rose to 0.15 percent from 0.14 percent.

The dollar mostly rose against other major currencies, while gold prices fell.