U.S. stock index futures edged lower on Friday ahead of data that will likely show that the labor market remained strong, bolstering the case for another outsized interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve later this month. The Labor Department’s closely watched employment report, due at 08:30 a.m. ET, is expected to show nonfarm payrolls increased by 300,000 jobs last month after surging 528,000 in July. Wages likely grew consistently and unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.5%. Money markets are pricing in a 75% chance of a third straight 75 basis points increase in rates at the U.S. central bank’s …
