MARKET SNAPSHOT: U.S. Stocks: Futures Creep Higher Ahead Of Retail Sales

By Barbara Kollmeyer, MarketWatch

Lumber Liquidators, Box, Shake Shack among the movers

MADRID (MarketWatch) -- Stock futures moved modestly higher on Thursday, after a rally out of Asia, but investors remained wary with the dollar continuing to push higher and investors watching retail sales and weekly jobless for signs of economic vigor.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJH5) were up 38 points, or 0.2%, to 17,676, while those for the S&P 500 index (SPH5) were up 4.75 points, or 0.2%, to 2,044.25. Futures for the Nasdaq-100 index (NDH5) were ahead by about 10.75 points, or 0.2%, to 4,318.25.

Across global markets, the Nikkei 225 index (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/japan-stocks-rise-to-15-year-high-2015-03-12) rallied 1.4% to a 15-year high , while the Stoxx Europe 600 (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/resource-firms-lift-european-stocks-for-second-straight-day-2015-03-12) added about 0.3%. The euro (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/euro-hits-fresh-12-year-low-against-dollar-2015-03-12-21033857)(EURUSD) dipped to a fresh 12-year low of around $1.0494 during Asia trade, but was back up around $1.0608 recently.

Adding to the growing list of central banks cutting rates, South Korea surprised markets (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/south-korea-cuts-interest-rate-to-record-low-2015-03-11) by easing its base rate a quarter of a percentage points to a record low of 1.75%. That comes on the heels of a rate cut by Thailand's central bank Wednesday.

Need to Know: Ignore the dollar and embrace the next stock dip (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ignore-the-dollar-and-embrace-the-next-dip-2015-03-12)

Retail sales on the radar: Wall Street had a slightly less painful day on Wednesday (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stocks-futures-claw-back-some-ground-after-wall-street-meltdown-2015-03-11), though major indexes still slipped 0.2% across the board as investors continue to ponder the timing of the next Federal Reserve rate hike. Policy makers could issue new guidance after their March 17-18 meeting.

Initial weekly jobless claims are coming at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, while retail sales for February are released at the same time. Business inventories data will be released at 10 a.m. Eastern.

Retail sales will be the piece of data that likely gets the most attention, and forecasters polled by MarketWatch are expecting a gain of 0.3% for February. "Any weakness could leave analysts questioning the timing once again and may in turn have the potential to nudge stocks higher on both sides of the Atlantic," said analysts at Trustnet Direct, in a note.

Also see: This was the best-performing stock sector for 87 years (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/buy-the-best-performing-stock-sector-for-87-years-2015-03-11)

Stocks to watch: Shares of Citigroup Inc. (C) rose 3% in thin premarket trading after it was among 28 of 31 big banks that got the Fed's approval to return capital to investors (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/federal-reserve-rejects-2-banks-capital-plans-in-stress-tests-2015-03-11). The Fed late Wednesday rejected the capital plans of two large banks, the U.S. units of Deutsche Bank AG (DB) and Banco Santander SA (SAN).

Shares of Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/shake-shack-shares-fall-6-after-earnings-miss-2015-03-11).(ACAD) were down 25% in premarket trade after the drug maker said late Wednesday it would delay submitting a new-drug application for Nuplazid until later this year.

Shares of Box Inc.(BOX) were down 12% after the company, which launched its IPO in January, posted a wider-than-expected loss (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/box-inc-reports-wider-than-expected-loss-2015-03-11)on higher costs.

Shake Shack Inc (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/shake-shack-shares-fall-6-after-earnings-miss-2015-03-11).(SHAK) was off about 6% after the burger chain missed fourth-quarter earnings forecasts. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc.(KKD) may also fall after the company posted disappointing sales growth (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/krispy-kreme-reports-disappointing-sales-growth-2015-03-11-17485364).

Dollar General Corp. (DG) posted quarterly results that matched Street estimates (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dollar-general-meets-on-profit-to-open-730-storese-in-2015-2015-03-12) on profit and announced that it planned on opening 730 stores this year.

Shares of Children's Place Inc.(PLCE) were off after the kid's apparel retailer posted disappointing earnings outlook (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/childrens-places-stock-falls-after-disappointing-profit-outlook-2015-03-12) after beating fourth-quarter profit expectations.

Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc. (LL) is up about 3%, after the company came out and said same-store sales are down about 12.7% since health concerns were raised in a "60 Minutes" report.

Hovanian Enterprises Inc.(HOV) is due to report results ahead of the market open on Thursday.

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.(BABA) will invest $200 million in a deal for Snapchat that brings the messaging company's value up to $15 billion, according to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal (http://www.wsj.com/articles/alibaba-invests-in-snapchat-1426128199).

Valeant Pharmaceuticals Inc (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/valeant-committed-to-salix-deal-despite-endo-offer-2015-03-11).(VRX) said late Wednesday it remains "firmly committed" to its $158-a-share offer for Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd.(SLXP) despite a higher bid from Endo International(ENDP).

Other markets: U.S. crude prices (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gold-rebounds-but-remains-near-november-lows-2015-03-12)(CLJ5) rose but gains were muted after rising oil-supply data, while gold prices (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gold-rebounds-but-remains-near-november-lows-2015-03-12)(GCJ5) showed signs of a rebound.

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