NEW YORK (AP) ? Stock futures are rising ahead of two reports on the labor market.
The government will report Thursday morning on the number of people who applied for unemployment benefits last week. Economists forecast that first-time claims for benefits dropped to 420,000 last week, below both the previous week and the four-week average.
Private payroll processor ADP also will release its monthly look at private-sector employment. Economists estimate that companies added 70,000 employees last month.
Major retailers are also reporting June sales figures.
Ahead of the opening bell, Dow Jones industrial average futures are up 33 points, or 0.2 percent, to 12,599. S&P 500 index futures are up 5, or 0.4 percent, to 1,340. Nasdaq 100 futures are up 8, or 0.3 percent, to 2,382.
