Drop in jobless claims, results from Wal-Mart and Target, may help stocks after a weak run.
A drop in jobless claims and solid results from two big retailers could help stocks break out of their recent slump Thursday.
S&P and Nasdaq futures pointed to a higher start when Wall Street opens for business.
Stocks fell for the third time in the last four sessions Wednesday on weakness in blue-chip issues. (For more on Wednesday's market action, click on the chart).
New jobless claimsfell to 344,000 in the United States last week, the government reported, coming in below Wall Street forecasts.
On the earnings front, Wal-Mart Stores reported higher earnings that matched forecasts and said it expects future results at or above current estimates. Wal-Mart (WMT: Research, Estimates) shares jumped in before-hours trading.
Target, another big retailer, reported results that topped analysts' forecasts.
And computer maker Hewlett-Packard is due to report results after the closing bell.
Overseas, stocks ended mostly higher in Asia and gained in early trading in Europe.
Treasury bond prices edged lower after the jobless claims report, pushing the yield on the 10-year note up to 4.08 percent from 4.05 percent late Wednesday. Bond prices and yields move in opposite directions.
The dollar edged lower against the euro and was little changed against the yen.
Aside from the retailers, stocks to watch Thursday include Applied Materials (AMAT: Research, Estimates), which jumped in after-hours trading Wednesday after reporting a return to profitability and a sharp increase in sales for its fiscal first quarter. The news is more evidence that a recovery for the chip equipment sector is well underway.
Fellow chip equipment makers KLA-Tencor (KLAC: Research, Estimates), Novellus Systems (NVLS: Research, Estimates), and Lam Research (LRCX: Research, Estimates) also got a boost in after-hours trading.
Disappointment surrounding Intuit Inc.'s (INTU: Research, Estimates) third-quarter forecast sent its shares sinking in after-hours trading.
DaimlerChrysler (DCX: Research, Estimates) also reported results at its U.S. Chrysler division were disappointing, as the unit posted an operating loss of $645 million last year, Reuters reported.
A drop in jobless claims and solid results from two big retailers could help stocks break out of their recent slump Thursday.
S&P and Nasdaq futures pointed to a higher start when Wall Street opens for business.
Stocks fell for the third time in the last four sessions Wednesday on weakness in blue-chip issues. (For more on Wednesday's market action, click on the chart).
New jobless claimsfell to 344,000 in the United States last week, the government reported, coming in below Wall Street forecasts.
On the earnings front, Wal-Mart Stores reported higher earnings that matched forecasts and said it expects future results at or above current estimates. Wal-Mart (WMT: Research, Estimates) shares jumped in before-hours trading.
Target, another big retailer, reported results that topped analysts' forecasts.
And computer maker Hewlett-Packard is due to report results after the closing bell.
Overseas, stocks ended mostly higher in Asia and gained in early trading in Europe.
Treasury bond prices edged lower after the jobless claims report, pushing the yield on the 10-year note up to 4.08 percent from 4.05 percent late Wednesday. Bond prices and yields move in opposite directions.
The dollar edged lower against the euro and was little changed against the yen.
Aside from the retailers, stocks to watch Thursday include Applied Materials (AMAT: Research, Estimates), which jumped in after-hours trading Wednesday after reporting a return to profitability and a sharp increase in sales for its fiscal first quarter. The news is more evidence that a recovery for the chip equipment sector is well underway.
Fellow chip equipment makers KLA-Tencor (KLAC: Research, Estimates), Novellus Systems (NVLS: Research, Estimates), and Lam Research (LRCX: Research, Estimates) also got a boost in after-hours trading.
Disappointment surrounding Intuit Inc.'s (INTU: Research, Estimates) third-quarter forecast sent its shares sinking in after-hours trading.
DaimlerChrysler (DCX: Research, Estimates) also reported results at its U.S. Chrysler division were disappointing, as the unit posted an operating loss of $645 million last year, Reuters reported.
3287.99
1275.09
