Stock futures languish with economy in focus: Stock market news today

News Snapshot:

US stocks are setting up to open flat on Friday, after rallying the previous day amid signs of a resilient economy that boosted hopes the Federal Reserve could end its rate-hike campaign soon. Futures on the S&P 500 (^GSPC) and the Dow (^DJI) were down slightly, while contracts on the technology-heavy Nasdaq (^IXIC) tipped slightly higher. The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment report due later could give more clues to the US economic outlook. Global stocks were getting a lift from growing expectations that China will have to bump up stimulus as its recovery stutters. But the US bull market...