Stock futures flat after Fed cuts growth, inflation projections

[March 19, 2015]  NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Thursday after the Federal Reserve on Wednesday removed a reference to being "patient" on interest rates out of its policy statement but indicated that it was in no rush to hike borrowing costs.

* Fed officials also slashed their median estimate for the federal funds rate - the key overnight lending rate - to 0.625 percent for the end of 2015 from the 1.125 percent estimate in December.

* U.S. stocks had ended up higher on Wednesday as investors, who had sold stocks ahead of the meeting, were relieved by the Fed's dovish outlook and comments.

* Stocks in the rest of the world rallied after the news. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares <.FTEU3> was up 0.56 percent and London's FTSE hit a record after Asian bourses had their best session in 18 months.

* U.S. economic indicators due out on Thursday include weekly initial jobless claims and the U.S. current account balance both due out at 8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT). The Philadelphia Federal Reserve's business survey is due out at 10:00 a.m.

* Greek banks saw deposit outflows of about 300 million euros on Wednesday, the highest level in a single day since a Feb. 20 accord with euro zone partners over new tensions with EU, two senior Greek bankers familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

* Target Corp <TGT.N> said it would raise the minimum wage for its workers to $9 an hour, matching moves made by rivals including Wal-Mart Stores Inc <WMT.N>. It also agreed to pay $10 million in a proposed settlement of a class-action lawsuit related to a huge 2013 data breach.

* Web hosting company GoDaddy Inc said in a regulatory filing that it expects to raise $418 million in an initial public offering.

Futures snapshot at 7:20: * S&P 500 e-minis <ESc1> were down 2 points, or 0.1 percent, with 186,710 contracts changing hands. * Nasdaq 100 e-minis <NQc1> were up 1.25 points, or 0.03 percent, in volume of 25,719 contracts. * Dow e-minis <1YMc1> were down 14 points, or 0.09 percent, with 20,450 contracts changing hands.

(Reporting by Sinead Carew and Chuck Mikojczak; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

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