Stock futures climb ahead of weekly jobs data

[August 19, 2010]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Stock futures rose Thursday as investors anticipate fresh reports will signal the economy continues to grow, albeit slowly.

Economic reports in recent days have indicated the economy is growing at a tepid pace, but they have been enough to reassure investors that the economy isn't falling back into recession. That comes after weeks of more discouraging reports on the economy, which led investors to worry about fears of another recession.

Reports Thursday are expected to show weekly claims for unemployment benefits fell slightly, while manufacturing in the Mid-Atlantic region is expected to show modest growth. Another report will likely paint a more upbeat picture about future economic expansion as well.

Ahead of the opening bell, Dow Jones industrial average futures rose 47, or 0.5 percent, to 10,399. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures rose 5.60, or 0.5 percent, to 1,092.30, while Nasdaq 100 index futures rose 7.25, or 0.4 percent, to 1,844.00.

The Dow has risen the past two days, climbing 1.1 percent during that stretch.

Volume has been particularly light in recent weeks, even by summer standards, meaning many investors are still uncertain about the direction of the economy. If economic reports over the coming months continues to show the economy is growing and a second recession is not likely to occur, it could bring many investors back into the stock market.

The biggest report of the day is likely to be the weekly report on unemployment benefits. Economists polled by Thomson Reuters predict initial claims for jobless benefits fell by 8,000 last week to 476,000. Claims would still be at levels considered too high to indicate broad private sector hiring, but it would reverse a recent trend of increasing claims.

The Labor Department report is due out at 8:30 a.m. EDT.

High unemployment is considered the biggest hurdle to a stronger recovery because people worried about jobs have scaled back their spending. Consumer spending accounts for the bulk of the country's economic activity.

A report on regional manufacturing activity from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia is expected to show an increase, following a similar report from the New York Fed. Economists expect the Philly Fed survey to rise to 7 in August from 5.1 last month. Any reading above 0 indicates growth in the sector.

The report is due out at 10 a.m. EDT.

Manufacturing activity had shown consistent growth earlier this year as the recovery took hold. But over the summer, activity has waned a bit. So signs of new growth would add further reassurances that the economy is still growing.

A third report is expected to show a gauge of future economic activity rose in July after falling a month earlier. The Conference Board's index of leading economic indicators likely rose 0.2 percent last month.

The index tries to predict economic activity over the next three to six months, so a rise in the index would indicate the economy is likely to grow during the second half of the year.

The report is due out at 10 a.m. EDT.

Bond prices dipped as investors moved into stocks. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, rose to 2.67 percent from 2.64 percent late Wednesday.

Overseas, Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.2 percent, Germany's DAX index gained 0.5 percent, and France's CAC-40 rose 0.7 percent. Japan's Nikkei stock average rose 1.3 percent.

[Associated Press; By STEPHEN BERNARD]

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