US pre-open: Futures edge lower on rising oil prices, Iran tensions

(Sharecast News) - Wall Street futures were in the red ahead of the bell on Thursday as a rebound in oil prices and renewed geopolitical tensions weighed on sentiment ahead of a key inflation print.

As of 1245 BST, Dow Jones futures were down 0.19%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures had the indices opening 0.26% and 0.49% weaker, respectively.

The Dow closed 182.60 points higher on Wednesday, reversing losses recorded in the previous session.

Thursday's primary focus will likely be April's personal consumption expenditures index at 1330 BST, with the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure expected to show a 0.5% month-on-month increase and a year-on-year rise of 3.8%. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, economists expect to see increases of 0.3% and 3.3%, respectively.

Elsewhere on the macro front, weekly jobless claims from the Labor Department will be released at 1330 BST, as will April durable goods orders, while April new home sales figures were slated for release at 1500 BST.

Also in focus, West Texas Intermediate crude rose 2.93% prior to the opening bell, moving back above $91 a barrel after the US military carried out fresh strikes in Iran. The gains come hot on the heels a sharp pullback on Wednesday, when secretary of state Marco Rubio said talks with Iran had made some progress.

In the corporate space, Dollar Tree posted said comparable sales had come in higher last quarter as price rises offset a decline in customer traffic, jumping 3.5% in the first quarter and topping estimates, while Best Buy reported Q1 results that came in ahead of Wall Street expectations as key product launches and higher tax refunds gave sales a boost.

Costco and Dell Technologies will report earnings after the close.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com