US Stock Futures Slightly Up As Investors Await Employment And Manufacturing Data

US stock futures are slightly higher this morning, ahead of employment and manufacturing data. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 4 points to 11,536, while futures for the S&P 500 rose 0.5 point to 1,256.20. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 added 1.75 points to 2,230.25. US stock market closed higher on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 0.09%, the S&P 500 Index rising 0.10% and the Nasdaq Composite Index gaining 0.15%. Economic data on weekly jobless claims is due at 8.30 a.m. ET, while the Chicago Purchasing Managers Index for December will be released at 9.45 a.m. ET. Data on pending home sales for November is due at 10 a.m. ET. United Continental Airlines UAL reported that fleet service employees at its Continental unit have ratified a new contract reached with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Endo Pharmaceuticals ENDP reported that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given approval to FORTESTA Gel for a low-testosterone treatment. According to reports, the world's largest private-equity firm Blackstone Group LP BX has launched a preliminary bid for assets of Australian shopping-center owner Centro Properties. European markets were mixed today. While STOXX Europe 600 Index has lost 0.51%, London's FTSE 100 Index moved up 0.04%. Mostly Asian markets ended in the positive territory, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average dropping 1.12%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 moving up 0.31% and China's Shanghai Composite gaining 0.29%. Gold futures for February delivery dropped $1.80 to $1,411.70 an ounce, while copper futures for March delivery gained 1.2% to $4.36 per pound in New York. Crude-oil futures traded above $91 per barrel. The euro gained about 0.1% against the US dollar. However, the dollar was trading flat versus the Japanese currency at ¥81.42. Read more from Benzinga's Markets.