Wall Street Preview: It's Report Day

U.S. stock futures pointed to a flat to slightly lower start for Wall Street on Friday, July 13, as earnings season kicks off with reports from some U.S. banking giants, and the U.S. government releases data on consumer inflation and retail sales. European shares traded mixed while Asian stocks finished Friday's session mostly higher.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average posted a record close on Thursday, July 13, for the second day in a row as the retail sector rallied on higher hopes for the second quarter. The Dow rose 0.10%, enough to clinch a new record of 21,553. The S&P 500 added 0.19%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.21%.