The daily business briefing: March 3, 2017

U.S. stock futures pointed to a cautious start to trading on Friday as investors awaited a speech from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen in Chicago. Stocks surged this week after two other Fed policy makers said improving jobs and inflation data indicated the economy was improving enough to justify raising interest rates soon. Investors will examine Yellen's remarks closely, looking for hints on whether that means the Fed could bump up its key short-term interest rate at its March 14-15 meeting. The federal jobs report, another key indicator of the economy's strength, normally is released on the first Friday of the month, but the February report will come out March 10, a week late, due to the way the days fell in the short month.