08:07 AM EDT, 08/21/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were cautiously lower pre-bell Thursday as traders digested retail earnings and looked ahead to a fresh batch of economic data.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down 0.3%, S&P 500 futures were 0.1% lower, and Nasdaq futures were down 0.2%.

Walmart ( WMT ) reported higher fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue and raised its fiscal 2026 guidance.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 0.6% at $67.25 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 0.7% higher at $63.14 per barrel.

The jobless claims report, scheduled for release at 8:30 am ET, is expected to show an increase in new unemployment claims to 226,000 for the week ended Aug. 16 from 224,000 in the preceding week. The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing index is seen coming in at 6.8 for August versus July's 15.9, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

The composite Purchasing Managers' Index is scheduled for release at 9:45 am ET.

The July existing home sales report, due at 10 am ET, is expected to show an annual rate of 3.92 million versus 3.93 million previously.