Stock futures rise, point to higher opening

Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:44 AM EDT

business, us-news, us, wall-street, wall, street, dow-jones

Stephen Bernard, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK — Stock futures are rising as the market appears set to resume its steady climb higher.

The rise in futures Thursday comes as economists expect a new report from the Labor Department to show initial claims for unemployment benefits fell for the fourth straight week.

Investors appear to be quickly brushing off new worries about European sovereign debt problems and weakness in the housing market that sent stocks lower Wednesday.

Overseas markets mostly rose a day after Portugal's debt was downgraded.

Dow Jones industrial average futures are up 24, or 0.2 percent, at 10,811. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures are up 3.10, or 0.3 percent, at 1,167.70, while Nasdaq 100 index futures are up 6.50, or 0.3 percent, at 1,958.00.

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