5 things to know before the stock market opens Friday, August 30

Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day:

Stock futures climbed Friday morning as the major averages head into the final trading day of August. Futures tied to the S&P 500 rose 0.4%, while Nasdaq 100 futures advanced 0.7% and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gained 0.2%. For the month, both the S&P and Dow are up about 1.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite is down almost 0.5%. A down August for the Nasdaq would mark back-to-back monthly losses for the index. Follow live market updates.

Wall Street is getting another look at the Fed’s favorite inflation gauge Friday morning. A fresh read on the Commerce Department’s personal consumption expenditures price index is due out at 8:30 a.m. ET. The Dow Jones consensus estimate for July PCE sees 0.2% monthly increases in both headline and core prices, largely in line with recent trends. If the report comes in as expected, it should keep the Fed on track for a much-anticipated September rate cut.

Intel is assessing its options. The once-dominant computing company has engaged advisors to review strategic options, a person familiar with the matter tells CNBC’s Rohan Goswami. Advisors are considering a full range of options — including splitting off and selling businesses — and will present their findings at an upcoming Intel board meeting in September, the person said. Intel’s business has struggled as AI-giant Nvidia claims more and more market share. Earlier this month, Intel reported underwhelming earnings and said it would lay off 15,000 workers.

Profits or planes? Cash-strapped airlines, in a bid to achieve sustained profits, are deferring spending on new aircraft as the latest measure to save money. JetBlue — one of the carriers putting off deliveries of new Airbus planes, along with Spirit and Frontier — estimates the deferrals will save it about $3 billion. But CEO Joanna Geraghty called the step a “double-edged sword:” “We need planes to grow, but taking delivery of aircraft that end up sitting on the ground after we’ve paid for them significantly worsens the problem,” she said.

– CNBC’s Pia Singh, Jeff Cox, Gabrielle Fonrouge, Yun Li, Ece Yildirim, Rohan Goswami and Leslie Josephs contributed to this report.