Stock Futures Point Lower

U.S. stock futures are pointing lower.  Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down 5 points to 9,975, while those for the S&P 500 were down 1.4 points to 1,057.90. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 fell 0.2 points to 1,786.50.

The weekly jobless claims report will provide an update of the market, with forecasts for the level to fall to 458,000, against 472,000 the prior week, according to economists polled by MarketWatch.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 274.66 points, or 2.82%, to close at 10018.28 Wednesday, with all 30 components in the black. The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index added 3.13% to 1060.27. The Nasdaq rose 3.1% to 2,159.47.

In Asia, stocks rose with the Australian market hitting a seven-day high after a stronger-than-expected June employment report. The Aussie dollar and the euro rose.

Crude-oil futures rose 70 cents to $74.64 a barrel, while gold futures rose 60 cents to $1,199.60 an ounce.

(Copyright 2010 WWJ Radio.  All rights reserved.)