U.S. stock index futures indicated a higher open on Thursday as traders eyed the release of a host of data.
Manufacturing PMI is due at 9:45 a.m. ET. ISM manufacturing and construction spending are released at 10 a.m ET. Initial jobless claims came in at 263,000, slightly below the consensus.
U.S. productivity fell 0.6 percent in the second quarter.
In oil markets, Brent crude traded at $46.60 a barrel , down 0.6 percent, while U.S. crude traded 0.5 percent lower at $44.47 a barrel.
On the earnings front, Campbell Soup reported quarterly results. Broadcom, Lululemon Athletica and Ambarella are among companies set to report after the bell.
In Europe, the pan European Stoxx 600 Index was up by around 0.8 percent on Thursday.
In Asia, Japan's Nikkei closed 0.23 percent higher on Thursday, while in China the Shanghai Composite closed 0.73 percent lower.
A new Chinese government survey of large enterprises in the manufacturing sector saw an uptick in factory activity last month. The official manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) for August rose to 50.4, beating a Reuters estimate of 49.9 and the July print of 49.9.
Correction: This story has been updated to reflect it is ISM manufacturing that is due at 10 a.m. ET.