US Stock Futures Up As Investors Await Economic Data

US stock futures are higher this morning, as investors are awaiting data on jobless claims and the non-manufacturing sector.Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 75 points to 12,121.00 and futures on the S&P 500 stock index climbed 9.20 points to 1,315.00. Nasdaq 100 futures rose 13.25 points at 2,336.50.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.07% to close at 12,067 on Wednesday.

Data on recent week jobless claims and fourth-quarter productivity will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET. The Institute for Supply Management’s non-manufacturing index for February is due at 10 a.m. ET.

Marvell Technology Group Ltd MRVL is projected to report its Q4 earnings at $0.42 per share on revenue of $925.64 million. H.J. Heinz Co HNZ is estimated to post its FQ3 earnings at $0.81 per share on revenue of $2.71 billion.

Kroger Company KR is expected to report its Q4 EPS at $0.44 on revenue of $19.37 billion. Novell Inc NOVL is estimated to report its FQ1 earnings at $0.07 per share on revenue of $199.00 million.

Big Lots BIG reported its Q4 EPS at $1.46, versus the consensus of $1.38. The company reported its Q4 revenue at $1.52 billion, versus the consensus of $1.52 billion.

Zumiez Inc ZUMZ reported 12.8% rise in its February same-store sales. However, analysts were expecting a 4.2% rise in same-store sales.

Positive sentiment ruled the European markets today. While STOXX Europe 600 Index has advanced 0.63%, London’s FTSE 100 Index moved up 1.00%.

Most Asian markets ended higher, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average gaining 0.89%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 moving up 0.09%, China's Shanghai Composite dropping 0.37% and Indian Sensex gaining 0.23%.

Crude-oil futures dropped on Thursday. Light sweet crude for April delivery dropped $0.36 to $101.87 per barrel in Globex electronic trading.

The dollar fell 0.03% against the Japanese yen to ¥81.808. However, the euro traded at $1.3863 versus the dollar.

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