Jobless claims report, Eisner's loss of the Disney chairman's job to provide fodder for investors.
Employment and the shakeup of Disney management will be in sharper focus when U.S. markets open for business the next two days.
At 5:50 a.m. ET, futures pointed to a higher start for the major indexes.
The jobs picture, the aspect of the U.S. economy that has lagged in recent months, will get a lot of attention over the next two days, starting with the jobless claims report for the week ended Feb. 28 due before the start of trading. The report is expected to show a decline to 345,000 from 350,000 in the prior week, according to a consensus of economists surveyed by Briefing.com.
But it's the February employment report that will be getting the most attention, since it will be watched as an indicator of the economy's strength and a barometer for the presidential election. Friday's report is expected to show an increase in employment of 125,000.
Other economic reports due Thursday include revised fourth-quarter productivity, due before the open, which is expected to remain at 2.7 percent quarterly growth, and January factory orders, slated after trading starts, seen declining 0.6 percent.
On the corporate front, Michael Eisner is now just the CEO of Walt Disney (DIS: Research, Estimates), having lost the chairman's job late Wednesday. The company's board made the change after a 43 percent shareholder vote withholding support for Eisner at a meeting in Philadelphia. Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell was elected chairman.
Among U.S. stocks trading in Europe, Disney shares were just slightly higher.
Both the Dow Jones industrial average and Nasdaq composite index were little changed Wednesday, reflecting some of the uncertainty about the jobs picture.
Asian-Pacific stocks ended mostly higher, with Tokyo's Nikkei index up 0.4 percent to its highest close since June 2002. European markets gained ground in early trading. (Check the latest on world markets)
Treasury prices fell in early trading, sending the 10-year note yield up to 4.06 percent from 4.05 percent late Wednesday. The dollar resumed its recent comeback against the yen and euro.
Brent oil futures added 9 cents to $32.32 a barrel in London. Gold was higher in early trading
Employment and the shakeup of Disney management will be in sharper focus when U.S. markets open for business the next two days.
At 5:50 a.m. ET, futures pointed to a higher start for the major indexes.
The jobs picture, the aspect of the U.S. economy that has lagged in recent months, will get a lot of attention over the next two days, starting with the jobless claims report for the week ended Feb. 28 due before the start of trading. The report is expected to show a decline to 345,000 from 350,000 in the prior week, according to a consensus of economists surveyed by Briefing.com.
But it's the February employment report that will be getting the most attention, since it will be watched as an indicator of the economy's strength and a barometer for the presidential election. Friday's report is expected to show an increase in employment of 125,000.
Other economic reports due Thursday include revised fourth-quarter productivity, due before the open, which is expected to remain at 2.7 percent quarterly growth, and January factory orders, slated after trading starts, seen declining 0.6 percent.
On the corporate front, Michael Eisner is now just the CEO of Walt Disney (DIS: Research, Estimates), having lost the chairman's job late Wednesday. The company's board made the change after a 43 percent shareholder vote withholding support for Eisner at a meeting in Philadelphia. Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell was elected chairman.
Among U.S. stocks trading in Europe, Disney shares were just slightly higher.
Both the Dow Jones industrial average and Nasdaq composite index were little changed Wednesday, reflecting some of the uncertainty about the jobs picture.
Asian-Pacific stocks ended mostly higher, with Tokyo's Nikkei index up 0.4 percent to its highest close since June 2002. European markets gained ground in early trading. (Check the latest on world markets)
Treasury prices fell in early trading, sending the 10-year note yield up to 4.06 percent from 4.05 percent late Wednesday. The dollar resumed its recent comeback against the yen and euro.
Brent oil futures added 9 cents to $32.32 a barrel in London. Gold was higher in early trading
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