U.S. index futures point to a broadly unchanged start on Wall Street on Thursday, breaking a two-day rally. Futures for the S&P 500 SPc1, for the Dow Jones industrial average DJc1 and Nasdaq NDc1 were virtually flat at 0949 GMT.
* Companies reporting earnings on Thursday include Novell Inc (NOVL.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc (JTX.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Williams-Sonoma Inc WSN.N.
* A group of major discounters, including eBay Inc (EBAY.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Costco Wholesale Corp (COST.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), is expected on Thursday to call for new laws blocking manufacturers from setting minimum prices on everything from flat-screen TVs to power drills, the Wall Street Journal reported.
* Capital One Financial Corp (COF.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) has offered $520 million in cash and stock for Chevy Chase Bank, the Journal also reported. [ID:nN03357149]
* Jobless claims data is due at 1330 GMT. The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits is seen rising to 537,000 from 529,000 in the previous week, according to a Reuters poll.
* Data showing factory orders for October is due at 1500 GMT. Analysts polled by Reuters forecast factory orders to have fallen by 4 percent, versus a 2.5 percent fall the previous month.
* Oil CLc1 fell below $46 a barrel to its lowest level in nearly four years, extending four consecutive days of falls. Crude oil was 2.1 percent lower at $45.82.
* On Wednesday, the Dow Jones industrial average .DJI jumped 2.05 percent, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX rose 2.58 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC shot up 2.94 percent. (Reporting by Sarah Marsh; editing by John Stonestreet)
