U.S. stock index futures indicated a lower open on Thursday coming off lows as investors eyed U.S. data and higher bond yields.
The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose marginally last week, staying near a 15-year low in a sign that the labor market continues to strengthen despite moderate economic growth.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 3,000 to a seasonally adjusted 265,000 for the week ended May 2, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Claims for the prior week were unrevised at 262,000, which was the lowest reading since April 2000.
Earlier, equity futures pointed to a sharply lower open, with Dow futures dropping 100 points.
European equities tumbled in morning trade, as government bond yields continued to spike. The yield on 10-year German Bunds soared 20 basis points to trade close to 0.8 percent, and is on track for its biggest weekly jump in over a decade, according to Reuters. It most recently traded around 0.66 percent.
10-year U.S. Treasury yields also traded close to 2.3 percent before edging down to around 2.22 percent.
Consumer credit figures for March are scheduled for release at 3:00 p.m.
Oil prices were steady on Thursday after hitting 2015 highs Wednesday, as OPEC reiterated its strategy of maintaining output.
Brent crude traded around $68.10 a barrel, while U.S. crude traded lower at $60.85 a barrel.
Thursday is polling day in the U.K.'s general election that is almost certain to lead to a hung parliament, where no one party holds a majority of seats.
A YouGov poll on Wednesday showed the incumbent Conservative Party and the opposition Labour Party, tied with 34 percent of the vote.
In other European news, Greece's economic nightmare continues, after European lenders dashed any hopes of an aid-for-reform deal next Monday when the Eurogroup of euro zone finance ministers meets.
—Reuters contributed to this report.