US pre-open: Futures trade slightly higher following solid gains in previous session

Wall Street futures traded slightly higher ahead of the bell on Thursday after major indices registered their best day in almost a month in the previous session.

As of 1220 BST, Dow Jones futures were up 0.24%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures had the indices opening 0.22% and 0.21% weaker, respectively.

The Dow closed 435.98 points higher on Wednesday after Federal Reserve vice-chair Lael Brainard said the bank would raise and maintain higher interest rates in a bid to reassure markets that inflation would fall back to target.

Thursday's primary focus will likely be comments from Fed chairman Jerome Powell at 1410 BST, with investors looking for more clues regarding potential rate hikes as the central bank head sits down for a Q&A.

Market participants will also look across the pond, with the latest policy announcement from the European Central Bank scheduled for 1315 BST - with a 50 or 75 basis point increase in the zero percent deposit rate likely on the cards.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note slipped back almost two basis points ahead of the bell and was sitting at 3.248%, while the 2-year note dropped ever so slightly to 3.439%.

On the macro front, the Labor Department's weekly jobless claims report will be out at 1330 BST and July consumer credit change figures will follow at 2000 BST.

In the corporate space, Apple was in focus after the tech behemoth announced a slate of new products, including its new flagship iPhone.

Smith & Wesson, DocuSign, and Zumiez will report earnings after the close.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com