Reply #12: It's all about the oil.

[ozymandius]

Stocks Seen Flat Are Oil Edges Higher

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures got a slight boost on Friday after a report showed U.S. retail sales rose in October, but the market still looked to open flat, pulling back from the previous day's rally as oil prices nudge higher.

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"The retail numbers were stronger than expected particularly the core number. This should be good for stocks and help support the short term bullish momentum in the market," said Bill Strazzullo, chief trading strategist at State Street Corp.

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Oil prices perked up from 7-week lows on Friday on forecasts for colder-than-normal weather in the U.S. Northeast.

U.S. crude rose 20 cents to $47.62 a barrel after a slide that has knocked 14 percent off the Oct. 25 all-time peak of $55.67. High oil prices have dragged on stocks as investors worry that high energy prices will pinch corporate profits and slow consumer spending.

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=1196&e=1&u=/nm/bs_nm/markets_stocks_dc&sid=95609877