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 * Fed policymakers expressed concern last month that raising
interest rates too soon could pour cold water on the U.S. economic
recovery, according to minutes from the Fed's Jan. 27-28 meeting.
Stocks generally have risen with any sign the Fed could raise rates
later rather than sooner.
* Energy shares looked to be in focus as crude oil fell 4
percent to $50.08 after another big weekly build in U.S. crude
inventories and possible rise in Saudi output added to worries about
oversupply. The commodity has rebounded 15 percent from a recent
bottom hit in late January but is still down more than 50 percent
from a June peak.
* While the decline in energy prices is expected to spur consumer
spending, it has severely hurt oil companies, with many cutting
spending plans for 2015 in a bearish sign for economic growth
prospects. Late Wednesday, Marathon Oil said it would cut its 2015
capital budget by 20 percent, the second cut of that magnitude since
December.
* While oil prices have been volatile of late, notching sharp swings
in both directions, the broader market has been fairly quiet as
investors await clarity on the situation in Greece. Over the past 14
sessions, the S&P 500 has moved an average of 21.06 points from its
peak to its trough, down from an average of 31 points on Feb. 2. The
CBOE Volatility index has fallen for five of the past six sessions.
* In Europe, Greece aims to conclude a deal with its euro zone
partners "soon," a government spokesman said on Thursday.
U.S.-listed shares of the National Bank of Greece rose 7.9 percent
to $1.63 before the bell.
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* Investors await U.S. jobless claims data, which are seen falling
to 293,000 from 304,000 in the latest week. The February
Philadelphia Fed index will be released after the market opens, and
is seen rising to 9.3 from 6.3.
Futures snapshot at 6:49 a.m.:
* S&P 500 e-minis were down 1.5 points, or 0.07 percent, with
72,610 contracts changing hands.
* Nasdaq 100 e-minis were up 3.5 points, or 0.08 percent, in volume
of 11,214 contracts.
* Dow e-minis <1YMc1> were down 7 points, or 0.04 percent, with
14,175 contracts changing hands.
(Editing by Bernadette Baum)
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