U.S. futures mixed to lower ahead of jobless data; Dow Jones up 0.04%

Investing.com - U.S. stock futures pointed to a mixed to lower open on Thursday, as investors were awaiting the release of highly anticipated unemployment data, although global growth concerns eased.

Ahead of the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.04% rise, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.09% loss, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.17% fall.

Market sentiment remained supported after official data showed that the Chinese economy expanded by 7.4% in the three months to October, matching economists' forecasts.

The data came one day after a report showing that U.S. housing starts rose by 15% in September, the fastest pace since July 2008, adding to hopes that the U.S. economic recovery is gaining momentum.

Investors were also looking ahead to the start of a two-day European Union summit, although no major announcements on Spain or Greece were expected.

Verizon Communications was expected to be active after reporting results early Thursday, posting revenue that was slightly above expectations. The company also said that it was on track to meet its 2012 goals.

Financial stocks were also likely to remain in focus, as Morgan Stanley reported third-quarter earnings that beat analysts' estimates, as revenue from fixed-income trading climbed from a year earlier, sending shares were up 1.51% in pre-market trade.

In the mining sector, Gold Resource plunged 13% pre-market, after the company lowered its full-year production outlook to a range of 85,000 ounces to 100,000 ounces of the so-called gold equivalent which includes silver.

In July, the company said it expects 2012 production of 100,000 ounces to 120,000 ounces of gold equivalent.

Elsewhere, medical-devices company Stryker was slated to moce, after Oppenheimer & Co. downgraded the shares to market-perform, the equivalent of hold, from outperform.

On Wednesday, the company said it expects 2013 earnings excluding some items of USD4.25 to USD4.40, an increase of 5% to 8% from 2012. Stryker had previously forecast a growth of at least 10% .

Other stocks in focus included Philip Morris, Microsoft, Google and Advanced Micro Devices, all scheduled to publish earnings reports after the market closes.

Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were mixed to lower. The EURO STOXX 50 fell 0.17%, France’s CAC 40 retreated 0.23%, Germany's DAX rose 0.36%, while Britain's FTSE 100 slipped 0.10%.

During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index climbed 0.48%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index surged 2%.

Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish its weekly report in initial jobless claims, as well as data on manufacturing activity in Philadelphia.