Stock Futures Rise as Inflation Falls 0.7%, Durable Goods Rebound

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Stock futures were edging higher on Thursday, pointing to new trading highs for the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average at the open, as core U.S. consumer inflation came in higher than estimates and durable goods in January recovered from December's lull. 

S&P 500 futures were up 0.2%, Dow futures added 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures climbed 0.2%. 

Consumer prices for January slid 0.7%, weakened by inflationary pressures tied to plummeting gasoline prices. Stripping out volatile items such as gas and food, core CPI increased 0.2%, better than an expected flat reading. 

Durable goods orders in January rebounded from a 3.3% decline in December to jump 2.8%. Economists had expected an increase of 1.7%. 

Initial jobless claims for the week ended Feb. 21, came in worse than expected with 313,000 new claims for unemployment benefits. A week earlier, the indicator had shown an increase of 283,000 and economists had expected a weekly gain of 290,000. 

European markets were mixed on Thursday, with Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 modestly higher. Germany said unemployment fell in February with 20,000 fewer jobless people compared to expectations for a 10,000 decline. France also saw unemployment fall, while consumer confidence increased. 

The European Central Bank said it was willing to accept Greek bonds in exchange for for funding again after removing the waiver earlier February. ECB President Mario Draghi said the central bank would reinstate the waiver if it approves of Greece's outlined conditions for economic reforms. 

U.S. regulators at the Federal Communications Commission are expected to approve proposed "net neutrality" guidelines brought before them by Chairman Tom Wheeler. Wheeler proposes the Internet be treated as a public utility, while cable and telecom companies are volleying for lighter regulations. 

Crude oil prices fell back after Wednesday's rally. West Texas Intermediate was down 1.5% to $50.22, after spiking 3% a day earlier. The commodity had been rallying despite the latest data showing the amount added U.S. inventory over the past week was more than double estimates, exacerbating global oversupply. 

Salesforce (CRM) - Get Report surged more than 11% in premarket trading after meeting fourth-quarter estimates and showing strong growth in deferred sales. Earnings guidance came in slightly weaker than expected. 

3D Systems (DDD) - Get Report tumbled 4% after posting earnings of 21 cents a share over its fourth quarter, 4 cents short of forecasts. Revenue climbed 21% to $18.4 million, though was nearly $15 million less than expected. 

Kohl's  (KSS) - Get Report jumped more than 2% after quarterly earnings of $1.83 a share beat by 3 cents and revenue climbed 4%, exceeding forecasts. 

Sears  (SHLD) inched higher after plunging sales and quarterly losses weren't as deep as expected. Comparable-store sales across the chain fell 7%, while Kmart's comparables slipped 2%. 

--Written by Keris Alison Lahiff in New York.