PARIS Reuters Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.25 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.45 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.2 percent at 5.16 EDT.
Investors awaited data on claims for jobless benefits for the week ended September 4. Economists in a Reuters survey forecast a total of 470,000 new filings compared with 472,000 in the prior week.
Investors will also keep an eye on monthly international trade data. Economists in a Reuters survey forecast a $47.3 billion deficit compared with a $49.9 billion deficit in June.
Oil rose toward $75 a barrel on Thursday, drawing some strength from an initial report of falling U.S. inventories. Industry data late on Wednesday surprised the market with news of a decline in U.S. fuel stockpiles, which have hit record levels, but government statistics for release on Thursday could contradict that.
Convenience store operator 7-Eleven is the mystery third party that offered to buy Caseys General Stores Inc CASY.O for $40 a share, or $2.03 billion, a source familiar with the situation said on Wednesday. The bid exceeds the $38.50 a share offered by Canadas largest convenience store chain, Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc ATDb.TO, which has been embroiled in a hostile takeover bid for the smaller rival since April.
Goldman Sachs GS.N has been fined 17.5 million pounds $27 million by UK financial regulator the Financial Services Authority for failing to disclose it was under fraud investigation by its U.S. counterpart.
Private equity groups including Apax Partners and Blackstone Group BX.N are interested in bidding for a controlling stake in Polish mobile operator Polkomtel, its chief executive told Reuters.
European stocks inched higher in morning trade on Thursday, adding to the previous sessions sharp rally, as buoyant mining and banking shares such as Barclays BARC.L and BHP Billiton BLT.L offset a drop in defensive utilities and telecom sectors.
Japans Nikkei average rose 0.8 percent on Thursday, lifted by short-covering after successful bond auctions in Portugal and Poland helped ease worries about Europes debt problems.
U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday as investors latched onto positive news out of Europe in the latest in a string of low-volume sessions suggesting little confidence in market direction.
The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI rose 46.32 points, or 0.45 percent, at 10,387.01. The Standard & Poors 500 Index .SPX added 7.03 points, or 0.64 percent, at 1,098.87. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC climbed 19.98 points, or 0.90 percent, at 2,228.87.
Reporting by Blaise Robinson; Editing by Mike Nesbit
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