US pre-open: Futures mixed as Fed minutes remain in focus

Wall Street futures were mixed ahead of the bell on Thursday as fears over tighter monetary policy remained in focus and investors prepared themselves for the release of a number of key data points.

As of 1200 GMT, Dow Jones futures were up 0.18%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures had the indices opening 0.03% and 0.43% lower, respectively.

The Dow closed 392.54 points lower on Wednesday after minutes from the latest Federal Reserve Bank meeting revealed a more hawkish tone than previously communicated by the central bank, with some officials looking to raise interest rates faster and trim its $8.8trn balance sheet to combat spiralling costs of living.

Energy stocks were in the green ahead of the bell on Thursday thanks to rising crude oil prices, with Marathon Oil, ExxonMobil and Occidental Petroleum all trading higher, while Bank of America, Citigroup and Wells Fargo shares all picked up more than 1% in pre-market trading after the Federal Reserve revealed it was getting ready to remove its economic assistance at quicker than originally anticipated pace.

In terms of earnings, Walgreens-Boots Alliance and Bed Bath & Beyond will report early on in the day, while WD-40 will update on trading after the close.

On the macro front, Challenger, Gray & Christmas' December jobs cuts report will be published at 1330 GMT, while weekly jobless claims data and November's balance of trade reading will follow at 1430 GMT and the Institute for Supply Management's December non-manufacturing PMI and November factor orders data will follow at 1600 GMT.