08:25 AM EDT, 10/17/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were higher pre-bell Thursday, with futures of technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite outperforming other major benchmarks following an upbeat Q3 results and forecast from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( TSM ) .

The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gained 0.2%, S&P 500 futures rose 0.5%, and Nasdaq futures were up 0.8%.

Taiwan Semiconductor reported early Thursday Q3 earnings and revenue that topped analysts' estimates and issued Q4 revenue guidance that also topped Street projections.

Oil prices were little changed, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude hovering around $74.29 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude hovering around $70.46 per barrel.

New unemployment claims, scheduled for release at 8:30 am ET, are seen dropping to 241,000 in the week ended Oct. 12 from 258,000 claims in the preceding week. Retail sales are expected to rise 0.3% in September after the prior month's 0.1% uptick, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

Industrial production, due at 9:15 am ET, are seen dropping by 0.1% in September versus a 0.8% increase in August.

Business inventories, slated for 10 am ET, are seen rising 0.3% in August versus July's 0.4% increase. Forecasters see the US housing market index increasing to 43 in October from 41 in September.