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U.S. stocks: Futures up after claims; S&P eyes record
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — U.S. stock futures moved north Thursday, though they trimmed their gains slightly following a report on weekly jobless claims that roughly matched expectations.

Neither downbeat Chinese data nor a perceived hawkish set of Federal Reserve minutes deterred upbeat sentiment. Friday’s speech from Janet Yellen remains a market focus, and the S&P 500 is within spitting distance of setting a fresh record close.

Futures for the S&P 500 SPU4, +0.16% added 3 points, or 0.2%, to 1,986.30, while those for the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJU4, +0.25% rose 34 points, or 0.2%, to 16,984. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 NDU4, +0.14% rose 4 points, or 0.1%, to 4,043.50.

Initial jobless claims fell by 14,000 to 298,000 last week, basically in line with the 300,000 claims expected by economists surveyed by MarketWatch.

Three other economic reports are due at 10 a.m. Eastern, the most closely watched of which may be existing-home sales for July, which economists expect to hold steady. Also out at that time: the Philadelphia Fed manufacturing survey for August and leading indicators for July.

With time to mull it over, investors appeared to further shrug off the Fed minutes released Wednesday that showed some officials arguing the groundwork should be laid for raising interest rates sooner than expected. A Thursday report showing a three-month low for Chinese factory data was also brushed aside. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stocks-futures-up-as-fed-china-given-the-brush-off-2014-08-21?dist=beforebell