Stock futures rose Thursday as investors tensely await afternoon news on Greek debt that hopefully won’t trigger credit default swaps.
Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were on the rise, up 66 points to 12,907.
Greek officials are expected to make a pronouncement on agreements with creditors around 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. In the U.S., jobless claims rose to the highest level in five weeks, up by 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 362,000.
With risk trades on, gold prices increased $12.50, or 0.74%, to $1696.40. U.S. crude futures also moved higher, up 61 cents, or 0.57%, to $106.77. Brent crude futures were up $1.09, or 0.88% to $125.21.
In stock news, McDonald’s (MCD) shares sank more than 3% in pre-market trading on disappointing same-store sales for February, which rose 7%, less than the 7.7% analysts expected, according to Thomson Reuters. Revenue in Europe was the disappointment.
Williams Sonoma (WSM) reported fourth quarter results that were ahead of analyst expectations, but the shares were trading lower, off by 3.6%, in pre-market trading. The company also said its chief financial officer will retire March 15, and will be replaced by the current treasurer.
