U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open for Wall Street on Thursday, ahead of results from JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) and data on the labor market and housing. * At 4:39 a.m. EDT, futures for the Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq were down between 0.5 and 0.7 percent. * The FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top European shares was up 0.3 percent at 790.83 points, with most banks rising, and ahead of results from tech bellwether Nokia (NOK1V.HE). * JPMorgan is expected to report a small profit for the first quarter on improved results from trading and investment banking. * Google (GOOG.O) is expected to report a sequential drop in quarterly revenue for the first time in its history. * Other companies reporting include Biogen (BIIB.O), which is expected to update on its multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri, and motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson. * General Growth Properties Inc GGP.N, the second largest U.S. mall owner, on Thursday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from its creditors, making it one of the biggest victims of the credit crisis yet. * Housing starts for March are expected to have fallen to 540,000, from 583,000, according to a Reuters survey. * Other economic data due includes weekly jobless numbers, expected to have edged up. * U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday as investors took heart from the glimmer of hope offered by different economic reports. [nSP172565] * The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI gained 1.4 percent, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX rose 1.3 percent and the Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC added 0.1 percent.

Source