NEW YORK (AP) ? Stock futures are rising ahead of a new batch of economic data.
The government plans to release reports on weekly claims for unemployment benefits, consumer prices, industrial production and regional manufacturing on Thursday.
Economists forecast first-time applications for unemployment benefits slipped last week to 412,000. A surprise reading higher or lower often sets the tone for stock market trading.
The consumer price index is expected to have inched up 0.2 percent in August from the previous month.
A show of support by Germany and France for Greece lifted stocks on Wednesday.
Ninety minutes before the opening bell, Dow Jones industrial average futures are up 60 points, or 0.6 percent, to 11,234. S&P 500 index futures are up 7, or 0.6 percent, to 1,188. Nasdaq 100 futures are up 17, or 0.8 percent, to 2,263.
