09:01 AM EDT, 06/06/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were flat before Thursday's opening bell, with investor sentiment stabilizing after a rally fueled by optimism surrounding artificial intelligence chipmaker Nvidia ( NVDA ) .

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipped 0.1%, S&P 500 futures declined 0.07%, while Nasdaq futures were flat.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 0.4% at $78.70 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude up 0.4% at $74.38 per barrel.

New unemployment claims, released at 8:30 am ET, rose to 229,000 in the week ended June 1 from 221,000 in the preceding week, compared with estimates compiled by Bloomberg for a decline to 220,000.

US trade deficit, also released 8:30 am ET, widened to $74.56 billion in April from $68.58 billion in the prior month, compared with estimates compiled by Bloomberg for a $76.5 billion gap. Q1 nonfarm productivity was revised down to a 0.2% growth rate from 0.3%, while Q1 unit labor costs were revised down to 4% growth from 4.7%. Estimates compiled by Bloomberg called for a flat reading for nonfarm productivity and a 4.9% growth rate for unit labor costs.

In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 0.6% higher, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 0.3% higher, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 0.5% lower. Meanwhile, UK's FTSE 100 gained 0.3%, and Germany's DAX index rose 0.3% in Europe's early afternoon session.

In equities, shares of Nvidia ( NVDA ) were 1.5% higher pre-bell after the company's market capitalization rose to over $3 trillion in the previous session, surpassing Apple ( AAPL ) . Motorsport Games ( MSGM ) shares advanced 14%, a day after the company said it has regained compliance with Nasdaq's listing rules.

On the losing side, Sprinklr ( CXM ) shares fell 24% after the company issued fiscal Q2 guidance that trailed analysts' projections. Five Below ( FIVE ) shares dropped nearly 20% after the company reported fiscal Q1 results that missed analysts' estimates and lowered its fiscal 2024 outlook.