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Futures up: Dow 0.11%, S&P 500 0.06%, Nasdaq 0.04%

Nov 14 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were steady

on Thursday as investors awaited a fresh batch of economic data

and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's comments later in the

day for clues on the outlook for the economy and monetary

policy.

The producer price index (PPI) reading for October and

weekly jobless claims data are expected at 8:30 a.m. ET.

"These numbers (PPI) better reflect corporate pricing power

than the consumer price data, the tone should be consistent with

a December rate cut," said Paul Donovan, chief economist at UBS

Global Wealth Management.

Traders are broadly pricing in an 82.3% chance of a 25-basis

point interest rate cut at the Fed's December meeting, according

to CME FedWatch.

Bets on a December cut increased after Wednesday's consumer

price index data, which was in line with forecasts.

Powell will provide an update on his economic outlook to

business leaders in Dallas, a day after some Fed policymakers

shifted their attention back to inflation risks as they weighed

when, and how fast and far, to cut interest rates.

Policies under President-elect Donald Trump's administration

are widely expected to add to inflationary pressures.

The Republican Party will control both houses of Congress

when Trump takes office in January, Edison Research projected on

Wednesday, enabling him to push an agenda of slashing taxes and

shrinking the federal government.

Changing inflation expectations are clearly visible in the

bond market, where the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield

has ticked up to its highest since July, which could limit gains

for rate-sensitive equities.

At 5:25 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis were up 47 points, or

0.11%, S&P 500 E-minis were up 3.75 points, or 0.06%,

and Nasdaq 100 E-minis were up 8 points, or 0.04%.

Futures tracking the small-cap Russell 2000 jumped

0.7% after the index closed down nearly 1% on Wednesday.

Shares of cryptocurrency-focused companies rose on Thursday

as bitcoin continued to climb on hopes of favorable

policies under Trump. Coinbase Global ( COIN ) gained 4.2%,

miner MARA Holdings ( MARA ) rose 3.3% and bitcoin buyer

MicroStrategy ( MSTR ) was up 3.7% in premarket trading.

The Dow and the S&P 500 edged higher on

Wednesday, while the Nasdaq lost ground.

Earnings from Walt Disney ( DIS ) and semiconductor company

Applied Materials ( AMAT ) are due before the bell, with the

company's shares up 2% and 1.2%, respectively, on Thursday.

Cisco ( CSCO ) dipped 4.6% after the computer networking

equipment maker forecast annual revenue broadly in line with

estimates after the bell on Wednesday.

Remarks from Fed officials Adriana Kugler, Thomas Barkin and

John Williams are expected later on Thursday.