U.S. stock futures rose slightly Friday ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at Jackson Hole on Friday. Investors will be seeking clues on the path forward for monetary policy. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures climbed 131 points, or 0.3%. S&P 500 futures added 0.2%, while Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.1%. Investors are looking forward to Powell’s speech hoping to gain clarity on the interest rate outlook. Markets were last pricing in a 75% chance of a quarter-point cut at the September meeting, according to the CME FedWatch tool. Recently, the prospect of lower interest rates helped bolster parts of the market that have missed out on this year’s rally, with investors dumping megacap tech for small caps and value plays. However, a more hawkish outlook from Powell could throw cold water on the market. “I think the Fed and what Powell is going to try to articulate and communicate is an explanation and a justification for the Fed to start a process of cutting interest rates starting in September,” Morgan Stanley Investment Management’s Jim Caron said Thursday on CNBC’s “Closing Bell.” “And I think that should be supportive for markets.” That could determine the direction of the near-term outlook for a stock market that’s come under pressure. As of Thursday’s close, all three major averages were headed for a losing week. The S&P 500 is off 1.2% week to date, while the Nasdaq is down 2.4%. The 30-stock Dow is on pace for a roughly 0.4% slide. On the other hand, the S&P 500 Equal Weight Index is virtually unchanged for the week. U.S. Treasury yields were little changed on Friday as investors awaited Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s speech at Jackson Hole, which will be pivotal to understanding the path of monetary policy. The 10-year Treasury yield was unchanged at 4.332%. The 2-year yield was less than 1 basis point higher at 3.8%. Asia-Pacific markets traded mostly higher Friday as investors await U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at the central bank’s annual economic symposium, which could offer clues into the path of interest rates. South Korea’s Kospi jumped 0.86% to close at 3,168.73 and the small-cap Kosdaq ended the day 0.68% higher at 782.51. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 closed flat at 42,633.29, while the Topix rose 0.58% to 3,100.87. Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.57% to close at 8,967.4 after the index crossed the 9,000 mark for the first time Thursday. Mainland China’s CSI 300 jumped over 2% to close at 4,378, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 0.32%. Oil prices were little changed on Friday as hopes for an imminent peace deal between Russia and Ukraine dimmed, putting prices on track for their first weekly gain in three weeks. Brent crude futures were down 17 cents, or 0.25%, at $67.50 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures declined by 13 cents, or 0.2%, to $63.39. Both contracts gained more than 1% in the previous session. Brent has risen 2.8% so far this week while WTI is up 1%. Gold slipped on Friday due to a firmer dollar, with markets awaiting U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at the annual Jackson Hole symposium for more insight on the Fed’s monetary policy path. Spot gold was down 0.4% at $3,326.35 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures for December delivery were 0.4% lower at $3,368.80.