Dow Jones futures were down 0.01 percent by 4.38 a.m. ET while S&P 500 futures ticked down 0.05 percent and Nasdaq futures rose 0.3 percent, suggesting a mixed start for U.S. stocks on Friday after four days of gains.

The focus is likely to be on second-quarter results from Bank of America and Citigroup as well as industrial bellwether General Electric .

After Thursday's closing bell, IBM shares rose 3 percent after the company sharply raised its full-year earnings forecast.

IBM shares in Frankfurt were up 3.1 percent.

Google shares fell 1.5 percent in extended trade on Thursday after the internet search company's results beat Wall Street expectations, but the weak economy and slump in advertising spending took a toll on revenue growth and the price of search ads.

Also after the U.S. market's close on Thursday, CIT Group said its board of directors and management were evaluating alternatives to improve liquidity, adding the lender was in discussions to secure financing. CIT's shares rose 11.7 percent in Frankfurt by 4.25 a.m.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, in China for talks with senior Chinese officials, said on Friday the United States wants China to move more quickly to a freely floating exchange rate. He declined to say what an appropriate dollar-yuan exchange rate would be.

U.S. economic data due on Friday include housing starts and permits for June at 8.30 a.m.

(Reporting by Peter Starck; Editing by Mike Nesbit)

China Investment Citigroup