09:02 AM EDT, 03/14/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were cautiously higher Thursday as traders digested a slate of economic reports, including producer prices and weekly jobless claims.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gained 0.3%, S&P 500 futures slipped 0.2%, and Nasdaq futures declined 0.2%.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 0.7% at $84.60 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude up 1% at $80.47 per barrel, buoyed by signs of tighter supplies in the US and by news of attacks on a key Russian fuel refinery. The US Energy Information Administration reported Wednesday a 1.5 million-barrel weekly draw in the country's crude stockpiles.

Producer prices, released at 8:30 am ET, rose 0.6% in February, compared with estimates for a 0.3% uptick to match January's increase; while core prices gained 0.3% for the month, compared with the 0.2% expected increase and prior gain of 0.5%.

New unemployment claims, also released at 8:30 am ET, fell to 210,000 in the week ended March 9 from 210,000 in the prior week, compared with estimates for an increase to 218,000 claims. Meanwhile, retail sales rose 0.6% in February after January's 1.1% drop, compared with estimates for a 0.8% increase.

Business inventories, due at 10 am ET, are expected to rise 0.2% in January versus December's 0.4% increase.

In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 0.3% higher, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 0.7% lower, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 0.2% lower. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 slipped 0.05%, and Germany's DAX index increased 0.3% in Europe's early afternoon session.

In equities, shares of Dollar General ( DG ) were 5% higher pre-bell after the company reported fiscal Q4 earnings and sales that topped analysts' estimates. Weibo ( WB ) shares rose 8% after the company reported higher Q4 revenue that beat analysts' projections.

On the losing side, Under Armour ( UAA ) shares fell 4% after the company reappointed its founder, Kevin Plank, to the role of chief executive officer. Hello Group ( MOMO ) shares fell 16% after the company posted lower Q4 revenue.