RTRS: U.S. stock index futures point to higher open
* U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Thursday, as investors braced themselves for a slew of earnings news including results from Microsoft (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), McDonald's (MCD.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and American Express (AXP.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).
* At 0910 GMT futures for the S&P 500 SPc1 were up 0.4 percent, Dow Jones DJc1 futures were 0.3 percent higher and the Nasdaq 100 NDc1 futures were up 0.5 percent. * European shares rose for a ninth straight session on Thursday, with better-than-expected results by Credit Suisse (CSGN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) boosting financials, while drugmakers were in demand after Roche (ROG.VX: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) raised guidance.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index was up 0.2 percent at 892.05 points, at 0910 GMT. * Microsoft (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) is reporting fourth-quarter earnings with analysts expecting the company to earn 36 cents per share compared with 46 cents a year ago.
* McDonald's (MCD.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) reports second-quarter earnings with analysts expecting earnings per share at 97 cents compared with 94 cents last year.
* American Express (AXP.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), the largest credit card company by sales is reporting second-quarter numbers with analysts expecting earnings per share at 27 cents compared with 56 cents a year ago.
* Ford (F.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) is expected to post a second-quarter loss amid the economic downturn, with analysts expecting a loss of 50 cents a share compared with 62 cents a year ago.
* Analysts expect Amazon.com (AMZN.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) second-quarter earnings per share to come in at 31 cents compared with 37 cents a year ago.
* Safeway (SWY.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) is to report second-quarter numbers, with analysts expecting earnings per share at 55 cents compared with 53 cents a year ago.
* Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) - one of the rare drugmakers not to be dramatically hurt by generic competition - is expected to earn 47 cents a share compared with 43 cents a year ago when it reports second-quarter results.
* Shares of eBay (EBAY.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) edged up 3.3 percent after the bell on Wednesday after the company reported results. [ID:nN22132028]
* Shares of rating agency Moody's (MCO.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) fell 3.5 percent after the close on Wednesday after Warren Buffett reported a reduced stake in the company. [ID:nN22341799]
* A surprise ratings flip-flop by Standard & Poor's cast a cloud of uncertainty over the $700 billion U.S. market for commercial mortgage-backed securities and further tarnished the ratings firm's credibility, according to the Wall Street Journal.
* Research In Motion Ltd (RIMM.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) warned BlackBerry users in the United Arab Emirates that a software upgrade recommended by their wireless carrier was actually surveillance software that could enable unauthorized access to the popular smart phone, said the Wall Street Journal.
* The Labor Dept. releases first-time claims for jobless benefits for the week ended July 18 at 1230 GMT. Economists in a Reuters survey forecast a total of 550,000 new filings compared with 522,000 in the prior week.
* National Association of Realtors releases existing home sales for June at 1400 GMT. Economists in a Reuters survey forecast a 4.84 million annualized unit total versus 4.77 million annualized units in May.
* The Nasdaq rose on Wednesday for the 11th straight day, buoyed by solid profits from Apple Inc (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Starbucks Corp (SBUX.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), while disappointing bank results and declining energy shares weighed on the broader market.
The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI shed 0.39 percent, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX dipped 0.05 percent, but the Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC gained 0.53 percent. (Reporting by Joanne Frearson; Editing by Erica Billingham)
