RTRS: US stock futures signal rebound; eyes on retail sales
* U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Thursday, following the previous session's sell-off, while investors braced for monthly sales data from retailers.
* At 0908 GMT, futures for the S&P 500 SPc1 were up 0.5 percent, Dow Jones DJc1 futures were up 0.4 percent and Nasdaq 100 NDc1 futures were up 0.4 percent.
* Investors will also keep an eye on weekly jobless claims, ahead of key monthly jobs data due on Friday.
* The energy sector will be in the spotlight after Goldman Sachs (GS.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) raised its end of 2009 oil price forecast to $85 a barrel from $65 and introduced a new end of 2010 forecast of $95, the U.S. bank said in a research note. [ID:nL4422610]
* UAL Corp's (UAUA.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) United Airlines has asked Boeing Co (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Airbus (EAD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) to propose competing bids to supply up to 150 new airliners, the Wall Street Journal said on its website on Thursday. [ID:nBNG175386]
* American International Group Inc (AIG.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) is in talks to line up financing to facilitate the sale of its aircraft leasing unit, but it will consider options such as selling some aircraft if it fails to do so, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. [nN03136521]
* European stocks were up 0.4 percent in morning trade, led by rebounding energy shares such as BP (BP.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), but the gains were limited as investors remained cautious ahead of interest rate decisions by both the European Central Bank and the Bank of England.
* U.S. stocks dropped on Wednesday, snapping a four-day winning run, as tumbling oil prices dragged on energy shares, while less upbeat economic reports rekindled concerns over recovery prospects.
* The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI dropped 65.63 points, or 0.75 percent, to 8,675.24. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX shed 12.98 points, or 1.37 percent, to 931.76. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC declined 10.88 points, or 0.59 percent, to 1,825.92.
