By Alexandra Gibbs, CNBC–

U.S. stock index futures ticked higher ahead of Friday’s open, as investors tried to shake off any jitters concerning trade tensions between the U.S. and China.

Around 5:50 a.m. ET, Dow futures rose 111 points, indicating a positive open of 121.30 points. The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 futures indicated a positive start to their respective trading session.

As another trading week draws to a close, market-watchers will likely be awaiting news coming out of the political, economic and commodity spheres. Markets around the globe have been on a rollercoaster ride this week as tensions surrounding a tit-for-tat trade dispute between the U.S. and China continue to escalate.

On Monday, President Donald Trump requested the United States Trade Representative identify $200 billion worth of Chinese goods for additional tariffs at a rate of 10 percent. Those tariffs followed levies announced by both nations last week. Consequently, Beijing stated that it would deliver its own set of counter measures, if required.

While trade tensions continue to rattle investors around the globe, an important meeting concerning oil is expected to come to a close Friday. In the Austrian capital of Vienna, oil-producing nations from both OPEC and outside of the oil cartel group have gathered to decide whether it will change its current output rates.

With a decision expected soon, crude futures rose Friday as OPEC members struggled to come to an agreement on whether to increase output or not.

Date due Friday includes the U.S. flash composite purchasing managers’ index (PMI) figures, which is due out at 9:45 a.m. ET.

Elsewhere, BlackBerryBB-CA and CarMaxKMX are scheduled to post their latest corporate earnings ahead of the opening bell.

While no major speeches by the U.S. Federal Reserve are due to take place Friday, a New York Fed conference entitled “The Effects of Post-Crisis Banking Reforms” is set to take place in New York.