08:22 AM EDT, 05/01/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were higher pre-bell Thursday as traders eyed economic data and earnings from technology majors Apple ( AAPL ) and Amazon ( AMZN ) .

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gained 0.8%, S&P 500 futures increased 1.2%, and Nasdaq futures were up 1.8%.

Oil prices were lower, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude down 1.9% at $59.89 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude down 2.1% at $56.99 per barrel.

Apple ( AAPL ) and Amazon ( AMZN ) are scheduled to report earnings after the closing bell.

New unemployment claims, scheduled for release at 8:30 am ET, are seen rising to 224,000 in the week ended April 26 from 222,000 in the preceding week, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

The April Purchasing Managers' Manufacturing Index, slated for 9:45 am ET, is seen coming in unchanged from the preliminary estimate at 50.7.

The Institute for Supply Management's Manufacturing Index, due at 10 am ET, is seen coming in at 48.0 for April versus 49.0 in March. US construction spending is seen rising by 0.2% in March following a 0.7% uptick previously.