Updated from 7:05 a.m. EDT.

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Here are 10 things you should know for Thursday, March 12:

1. -- U.S. stock futures were looking up Thursday, as investors anticipated data on unemployment claims and retail sales, and as the Federal Reserve's timeline to raise rates remained a source of market anxiety.

European stocks were mixed on Thursday, with the U.K. leading the continent's major indices as mining groups rebounded, although eurozone industrial output declined.

2. -- The economic calendar in the U.S. on Thursday includes data on new unemployment claims, which arrives at 8:30 a.m. Retail sales numbers come in at 8:30 a.m. Business inventory data on manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers arrives at 10 a.m.

3. -- U.S. stocks on Wednesday closed slightly down after an up-and-down day, as next week's Federal Reserve meeting cast a cloud over trading.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIA) - Get Report dropped 0.16% to 17,635.39. The S&P 500 (SPY) - Get Report sank 0.19% to 2,040.24. The Nasdaq (QQQ) - Get Report was down 0.2% to 4,849.94.

4. -- The Federal Reserve's bank stress tests have curtailed the hopes of several big banks to give large dividends or conduct stock buybacks. JPMorgan Chase (JPM) - Get Report, Goldman Sachs (GS) - Get Report and Morgan Stanley (MS) - Get Report will all cut back on plans to return cash to shareholders, the Fed announced. Bank of America (BAC) - Get Report will be allowed to make planned payouts but will need to make internal changes.

The stress tests are intended to prevent another financial crisis and to force banks to hold sufficient reserves.

In premarket trading, Bank of America stock was down 0.6%. J.P. Morgan stock was up 0.43%. Goldman Sachs stock was up 0.46%. Morgan Stanley stock was up 3.4%.

5. -- Data on new unemployment claims will come in at 8:30 a.m. from the U.S. Department of Labor. At the last count, on March 5, the key figure was 320,000 new unemployment claims. That was up 7,000 from the prior week's report.

A drop in unemployment claims could be a factor in the Fed's decision about whether and when to raise interest rates.

6. -- Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba (BABA) - Get Report is planning to invest $200 million in disappearing-photo app Snapchat, according to reports. The investment values Snapchat at $15 billion, a precipitous increase from late 2013, when Facebook (FB) - Get Report offered $3 billion to buy the company. Four-year-old Snapchat is now among the highest valued start-ups.

In premarket trading, Alibaba shares were up 0.62%, and Facebook shares were up 0.55%

7. -- Stock in burger-slinger Shake Shack (SHAK) - Get Reportfell as much as 8.5% in after-hours trading after it released its first earnings report since its IPO in January. The stock more than doubled from its IPO price, but the company's growth expectations disappointed investors.

Shake Shack stock was down 7.3% in premarket trading.

8. -- The U.S. oil surplus expanded for the ninth straight week, as oil stockpiles rose to 449 million barrels. The amount of oil in U.S. inventories is the most since the Energy Information Administration began tracking the figure in 1982.

9. -- United Technologies undefined, maker of the Black Hawk helicopter, will spin off or sell its Sikorsky Aircraft unit, said the company's CEO, Gregory Hayes. In 2014, United Technologies pulled in $65.1 billion in revenue; the Sikorsky unit had $7.5 billion in sales. Hayes said he wanted United Technologies to focus on its core businesses instead, including jet engines and air conditioners.

In premarket trading, United Technologies stock was up 1.83%.

10. -- Mall clothing retailer Aeropostale (ARO) reports earnings after the closing bell. Dropping mall traffic has done serious damage to Aeropostale's now-bankrupt rivals, dELiA*s and Wet Seal. Aeropostale has posted eight quarters of losses in a row and has been trying to remake its image.

In premarket trading, Aeropostale was down 9.3%.