U.S. stock-index futures were little changed amid corporate earnings while data showed jobless claims hovered near four-decade lows, that is likely to give clues regarding the timing of a rate increase by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average were up less than 0.1 percent at 17,483. S&P 500 index futures added 0.1 percent to trade at 2,095, while Nasdaq-100 index futures rose 0.1 percent to 4,600.50.
A report today from the Labor Department showed jobless claims rose by 3,000 to 270,000 in the week ended August 1. The median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for 272,000. The 255,000 reading two weeks earlier was the lowest since November 1973.
The Fed has said it will raise rates only when it sees a sustained recovery in the economy. A hike in rates, which have stayed near zero for nearly a decade, will increase the borrowing costs for companies, crimping profits.
MOVERS:
Mondelez International (NASDAQ:MDLZ) climbed 5.1 percent in early New York trading after Pershing Square Capital Management said it has built a stake in the food-and-beverage company valued at about $5.6 billion.
Transocean (NYSE:RIG) gained 5.8 percent after the world’s largest offshore rig owner posted better-than-estimated earnings amid costs cuts.
Chesapeake Energy (NYSE:CHK) rose 1.1 percent after saying it’s in discussions to sell more assets or stakes in oil fields as the prospect of a prolonged energy-market slump imperils cash flow.
Tesla Motors (NASDAQ:TSLA) fell 6.9 percent after the electric-car maker backed off its full-year vehicle sales prediction.
Keurig Green Mountain (NASDAQ:GMCR) plummeted 28 percent after the maker of single-serve coffee systems cut sales and profit forecasts.
Fitbit (NYSE:FIT) slid 11.5 percent after the maker of wearable fitness trackers posted narrower margins in its first earnings report following an initial public offering.
SeaWorld Entertainment (NYSE:SEAS) fell more than 5 percent in premarket trade after profit and revenue fell short of estimates.
Michael Kors Holdings (NYSE:KORS) gained 6.7 percent after the fashion company reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings.
CF Industries Holdings (NYSE:CF) rose 5 percent after saying it will buy OCI's North American and Dutch plants for about $6 billion.
COMMODITIES:
Spot gold was up just 0.1 percent at $1,085.56 an ounce. U.S. gold for December delivery was unchanged at $1,085.60 an ounce.
The U.S. crude benchmark fell below $45 a barrel.
OTHER MARKETS:
European stocks were mixed, with Greece’s Athex Composite rebounding after sliding for three days in a row.
Shares in China declined as investors continued to worry about Beijing’s measures to support the country’s stock market.