* Futures: Dow up 0.2%, S&P 500 down 0.2%, Nasdaq down 0.7%

* UnitedHealth ( UNH ) rises after 2026 profit forecast raise

* United Airlines down after flagging additional $6 bln

expense

(Updates prices)

By Ragini Mathur and Avinash P

July 16 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were mixed on

Thursday as weakness in chip stocks kept sentiment subdued ahead

of fresh economic data, while upbeat results from UnitedHealth ( UNH )

offered some support.

The latest in a wave of positive quarterly results,

UnitedHealth ( UNH ) raised its 2026 profit forecast, sending

shares of the healthcare giant up 6.7% before the bell and

helping lift Dow futures.

Peers Humana and Centene ( CNC ) gained 5% and 4.2%,

respectively.

Chip stocks extended declines from the previous session when

investors rotated into megacap technology names and banks

following strong results from major lenders.

U.S.-listed shares of TSMC fell 4.6% in premarket

trading, even after the advanced AI chipmaker reported a 77%

jump in second-quarter profit that topped market expectations.

The company also said it would invest an additional $100 billion

in the United States.

Memory-chip makers were among the biggest decliners, with

Western Digital ( WDC ) and Seagate Technology ( STX ) down 7.2%

and 5.8%, respectively.

Chip stocks were earlier among the biggest beneficiaries of

this year's rally, as optimism around AI spending by

hyperscalers helped drive Wall Street to record highs.

At 07:13 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis were up 95 points, or

0.18%, and S&P 500 E-minis were down 14.75 points, or

0.19%. Nasdaq 100 E-minis were down 210.25 points, or

0.71%.

The main three U.S. indexes rose for a second straight

session on Wednesday as this week's benign inflation reportsfor

June eased inflation concerns and reduced worries over tighter

Federal Reserve policy.

A strong start to the second-quarter earnings season also

supported sentiment, even as U.S.-Iran tensions simmered in the

background.

"While geopolitical dynamics may trigger setbacks, earnings

should remain the key driver of performance for the remainder of

the year," said Mark Haefele, chief investment officer at UBS

Global Wealth Management.

"In fact, with the U.S. second-quarter earnings season

kicking off with solid beats, we expect another strong set of

results in the coming weeks."

Later in the day, investors will monitor retail sales and

jobless claims reports at 8:30 a.m. ET for further signs of

whether the economy is cooling without raising worries about

growth.

Markets are currently pricing in about 90% likelihood that

the Fed will stay on hold at this month's monetary policy

meeting, according to CME's FedWatch tool.

The benchmark S&P 500 has climbed more than 10% this

year and remains near its June record close, leaving the rally

vulnerable to any disappointment in data or earnings.

GE Aerospace dipped 4.2%, despite the jet-engine

maker lifting its 2026 profit forecast.

United Airlines fell 3.1% as a renewed surge in oil

prices weighed on its third-quarter and full-year profit

outlooks.

Netflix ( NFLX ) is scheduled to report its after the

market's close.

(Reporting by Ragini Mathur and Avinash P in Bengaluru; Editing

by Maju Samuel and Devika Syamnath)