US Stock Futures Up Ahead Of Economic Data

US stock futures are higher this morning, as investors are awaiting economic data. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 27 points to 14,423.00 and S&P 500 index futures rose 2.40 points to 1,552.40. Nasdaq 100 futures gained 5.50 points to 2,799.00. US stocks closed slightly higher on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 0.04% to 14,455.28, the S&P 500 index rising 0.13% to 1,554.52 and the Nasdaq 100 index surging 0.09% to 3,245.12. Data on weekly jobless claims, current account for the fourth quarter and the producer price index for February will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET. The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index will be released at 9:45 a.m. ET, while the EIA weekly report on natural gas stocks will be released at 10:30 a.m. ET. Data on money supply will be released at 4:30 p.m. ET. Buckle BKE is estimated to report its Q4 earnings at $1.25 per share on revenue of $356.58 million. AAON AAON is expected to report its Q4 earnings at $0.23 per share on revenue of $69.11 million. The Cato CATO is projected to report its Q4 earnings at $0.28 per share on revenue of $230.20 million. Aeropostale ARO is expected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.22 per share on revenue of $775.70 million. Kirkland's KIRK is estimated to report its Q4 earnings at $0.74 per share on revenue of $162.59 million. Dynegy DYN is expected to post a Q4 loss at $0.45 per share on revenue of $677.31 million. Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance ULTA is expected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.98 per share on revenue of $752.27 million. ReneSola SOL is expected to post a Q4 loss at $0.37 per share on revenue of $253.50 million. Molycorp MCP is estimated to post a Q4 loss at $0.31 per share on revenue of $165.98 million. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts KKD is estimated to post its Q4 earnings at $0.12 per share on revenue of $115.93 million. Vera Bradley VRA issued weak first-quarter forecast. The Men's Wearhouse MW reported a wider-than-expected fourth-quarter loss and announced its plans to explore strategic alternatives for its K&G business. European markets were higher today. The STOXX Europe 600 Index rose 0.41%, London's FTSE 100 Index gained 0.23%, French CAC 40 Index rose 0.54% and German DAX 30 index surged 0.73%. Asian markets ended mostly higher, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average gaining 1.16%, China's Shanghai Composite rising 0.28% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dropping 0.47%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index climbed 0.28% and India's Sensex jumped 1.07%. Gold futures dropped 0.11% to trade at $1,586.60 an ounce. The ICE dollar index rose 0.04% to trade at 82.95.