Risk aversion returned to markets on Thursday, supporting the U.S. dollar and government bonds, after mixed economic data, while concern about the possible failure of a small U.S. lender sparked caution following the week’s robust gains in stocks.

Oil hovered around $61 a barrel as worry about the strength of global fuel demand was offset by news of strong economic growth in China.

The U.S. dollar initially fell to a six-week low against major currencies after JPMorgan’s reported record investment banking and trading results, providing further evidence of recovery in the financial system, but weak U.S. manufacturing data and concern about the impact of the possible failure of U.S. lender CIT re-introduced a bid for safer-assets.

CIT’s talks about aid with the U.S. Treasury ended Wednesday night, leaving the lender to its own devices, and endangering the future of some of the one million customers of the lender to small businesses. U.S. Treasury debt

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Friday as a recent spate of improving economic data beckoned investors back into equity markets for a second day.

Goldman Sachs added Microsoft Corp to its Americas ‘conviction buy’ list on improving revenue prospects, overshadowing a disappointing outlook from BlackBerry smartphone maker Research In Motion Ltd .

Shares of the software maker and Dow component rose 2.2 percent to $24.02 in premarket trading.

The Dow and S&P 500 snapped a three-day losing streak on Thursday as data on the job market and regional manufacturing revived hopes that the recession-hit economy is stabilizing.

“Sentiment is improving and a lot of people are taking the bet that the recession is over,” said Anthony Conroy, head trade for BNY ConvergEx, an affiliate of the Bank of New York, in New York.

Conroy added that the quarterly expiration and settlement of June equity options and futures, a convergence