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U.S. stock index futures advanced Thursday, following the weekly jobless claims report that came in slightly better than expected, but investors continued to worry over the ongoing euro zone debt crisis.
Weekly claims for unemployment benefits edge down last week 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 367,000, according to the Labor Department. Economists polled by Reuters had expected claims inching up to 369,000. The four-week moving average for new claims fell 5,250 to 379,000.
Meanwhile, the U.S. trade deficit widened more than expected in March to $51.8 billion, the biggest gain in nearly a year, according to the Commerce Department. Economists polled by Reuters had expected the trade gap to widen to about $50.0 billion.
And import prices fell 0.5 percent, according to the Labor Department, logging their largest drop in 10 months. Economists polled by Reuters had expected prices to fall 0.2 percent last month.
In Europe, Greece's far left leader, Alexis Tsipras, said he was unable to form a coalition government. Tsipras is the second Greek political leader to announce that he could not form a government after New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras said on Monday that he could not forge a coalition.
The two leaders met on Wednesday but were unable to reach an agreement.
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