Stocks set for higher start
Futures turn higher after unemployment claims fall. Investors await Friday's jobs report.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- U.S. stocks are expected to open higher Thursday after the number of people filing for unemployment fell.
At 8:43 a.m. ET, Dow Jones industrial average, Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures were all higher. Futures had stagnated prior to the jobless report.
Futures measure current index values against their perceived future performance and offer an indication of how markets may open when trading begins.
Economy: The number of people filing unemployment claims last week fell more than expected.
The report comes a day before the U.S. Labor Department releases its closely watched monthly jobs report.
Earnings: Tech bellwether Cisco Systems (CSCO, Fortune 500) reported a drop in quarterly profit and revenue after U.S. markets closed Wednesday.
World markets: Global stocks headed higher. Markets in Asia finished the session in positive territory, with Japan's Nikkei adding 1%. Major European markets were also higher in morning trading.
Oil hovered around $72 a barrel. The dollar was flat versus the euro and up against the yen. 
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