BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Economic announcements will be the
focus on Thursday. Inflation data might be influencing the market sentiments
today. The GDP for the first quarter, the Jobless Claims for the week, the
International Trade in Goods (Advance) for May, the Corporate profits for the
first quarter, as well as the Durable Goods Orders for May will get special
attention of the investors.

Early signs from the U.S. Futures Index suggest that Wall Street might open
lower. Asian shares finished mostly down, while European shares are trading
broadly in the negative side.

is expected at 8.30 am ET. In the prior quarter, the profits were up 10.9
percent.

In the Asian trading session, gold edged up slightly to trade above $2,300 per
ounce after a two-day decline, while oil prices were marginally lower in Asian
trading after data showed a large build in U.S. stockpiles.

As of 8.00 am ET, the Dow futures were down 88.00 points, the S&P 500 futures
were declining 9.25 points and the Nasdaq 100 futures were sliding 36.75 points.

The U.S. major averages closed on the positive note on Wednesday. The Nasdaq was
up by 87.5o points or 0.49 percent, to 17,805.16. The Dow ended up by 15.64
points or 0.04 percent at 39,127.80, while the S&P 500 settled at 5,477.60,
gaining 8.60 points or 0.16 percent.

On the economic front, the Durable Goods Orders for May will be issued at 8.30
am ET. The consensus is for 0.0 percent, while it was up 0.7 percent in the
prior month.

The GDP for the first quarter will be released at 8.30 am ET. The consensus is
for an increase of 1.4 percent, while it was up 1.3 percent in the prior
quarter.

The International Trade in Goods (Advance) for May will be published at 8.30 am
ET. The consensus is for a deficit of $95.6 billion, while the deficit in the
prior month was $99.4 billion.

The Jobless Claims for the week will be revealed at 8.30 am ET. The consensus is
236K, while it was up 238K in the prior week.

The Corporate profits for the first quarter is expected at 8.30 am ET. In the
prior quarter, the profits were up 10.9 percent.

The Pending Home Sales Index for May is scheduled at 10.00 am ET. The consensus
is up 1.9 percent, while it was down 7.7 percent in April.

The Energy Information Administration or EIA's Natural Gas Report for the week
will be issued at 10.30 am ET. In the prior week, the gas stock was up 71 bcf.

The Fed Balance sheet for the week is expected at 4.30 pm ET. In the prior week,
the level was at $7.253 trillion.

Asian stocks declined on Thursday. China's Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.9
percent to 2,945.85. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index tumbled 2.1 percent to
17,716.47.

Japanese markets drifted lower. The Nikkei 225 Index slid 0.8 percent to
39,341.54, while the broader Topix Index settled 0.3 percent lower at 2,793.70.

Australian markets ended lower. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index dropped 0.3
percent to 7,759.60, with banks and real estate stocks leading losses. The
broader All Ordinaries Index ended 0.3 percent lower at 8,002.80.



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