Stocks set to edge higher
Futures rise slightly as oil pulls back to $130 a barrel; jobless claims, revised GDP reading on deck.
LONDON (CNNMoney.com) -- U.S. stock futures edged higher Thursday, supported by a retreat in oil prices, as investors awaited a revised reading on U.S. economic growth.
At 5:19 a.m. ET, Nasdaq and S&P futures were narrowly higher and suggesting and positive start on Wall Street.
Oil prices fell back in electronic trading and were most recently trading around $130 a barrel.
Crude prices have fluctuated recently, and could see more dramatic movements after the release of the government's weekly fuel report at 10:30 a.m. ET.
Before the oil stockpile report, investors will get the government's revised reading on economic growth in the first three months of the year. The report on gross domestic product is due at 8:30 a.m. ET.
A weekly government report on jobless claims will provide the latest update on the labor market. Initial jobless claims are scheduled for release before the opening bell at 8:30 a.m. ET.
Companies to watch include Bear Stearns (BSC, Fortune 500), whose shareholders are due to approve the buyout by JPMorgan Chase (JPM, Fortune 500).
The chief executives of UAL Corp.'s (UAUA, Fortune 500) United Airlines and US Airways (LCC, Fortune 500) are set to meet today to discuss a possible deal.
On the tech front, TiVo (TIVO) reported late Wednesday that its net income more than quadrupled in the first quarter.
Earnings are also due later today from Heinz (HNZ, Fortune 500), Dell (DELL, Fortune 500) and Sears (SHLD, Fortune 500).
In global trade, Asian stocks bounced back. European shares rose in morning trading. 
-
Minimum wage to $20 an hour. That's what Sally Delk hopes for with a job at the nuclear power plant. More -
Charlotte Street was the epicenter of urban blight. No longer. Now Bimmers and boats fill driveways. More -
Ex-convicts like Gregory Headley are 'at the back of the line' in the struggle to find work. More -
Steve Jobs revived Apple, defying the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression. More -
Consumers looking to buy electronics for holiday gifts won't have to break the bank this season. More -
Search firm says it will pay the bill for wireless Internet during the holidays. More -
Twitter and LinkedIn hook up, signing agreement to let users share information across both platforms. More
