U.S. equity-index futures dropped with the dollar on weaker-than-estimated data on hiring and manufacturing

U.S. equity-index futures dropped with the dollar on Thursday, the last trading day of the week for many markets before the Easter holiday season. Despite many investors sitting on the sidelines prior to the weekend, markets are preparing for the monthly U.S. jobs report for clues on monetary policy. The figures will follow yesterday's weaker-than-estimated data on hiring and manufacturing, which fueled speculation that the U.S. economy is slowing and bolstered the case for keeping interest-rates lower for longer.