PARIS (Reuters) - Wall Street looked set to open little changed on Friday, despite oil prices holding below $57 a barrel, after mixed earnings tempered the optimism that lifted the Nasdaq to near a 4-1/2 year high in the previous session.

GE (GE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) rose 1.2 percent in Europe after news it is selling most of its Insurance Solutions business to Swiss Re (RUKN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research) and now expects faster earnings growth in 2006 and will increase its dividend and stock buyback plan.

Computer maker Hewlett-Packard (HPQ.N: Quote, Profile, Research) pleased investors with higher-than-expected quarterly profit and forecast fiscal first-quarter earnings above Wall Street's estimates, sending its shares 5.7 percent in after-hours trading on Thursday.

Gap (GPS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) fell after cutting its full-year earnings forecast and posting a 20-percent drop in third-quarter profits. Walt Disney (DIS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) also fell in extended-hours trading after the group reported lower quarterly profit and sales that missed Wall Street expectations.

Data and communications equipment maker Cisco Systems (CSCO.O: Quote, Profile, Research) plans to announce the acquisition of Scientific-Atlanta (SFA.N: Quote, Profile, Research), the top U.S. maker of cable television set-top boxes, for $7 billion, the New York Times reported.

There are no major economic data due on Friday, with investors already turning their attention to next week, which will be shortened by the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday.

On Thursday, the Dow Jones industrial average closed 0.4 percent higher at 10,720.22, while the broad S&P 500 Index closed up 0.9 percent to 1,242.80 and the tech-laced Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.5 percent to 2,220.46.

Underpinning sentiment is oil, which held near a five-month low as traders shrugged off predictions of chillier U.S. weather and focused on robust stocks of crude and heating fuels.

Meanwhile, miners may get a boost from copper prices at new record highs, amid speculation that there is not enough metal to cover a market bet estimated at up to $200 million.

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