09:08 AM EDT, 09/04/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were flat ahead of Thursday's opening bell as traders assessed economic data, including private payrolls and jobless claims.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down 0.1%, S&P 500 futures were 0.1% higher, and Nasdaq futures were also up 0.1%.

Oil prices were lower, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude down 1.5% at $66.61 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 1.5% lower at $63.04 per barrel.

The ADP Institute's August employment report, released at 8:15 am ET, showed a monthly increase in private payrolls of 54,000 following an upwardly revised 106,000 growth in July, compared with estimates compiled by Bloomberg for a 68,000 increase.

The new unemployment claims bulletin, released at 8:30 am ET, showed jobless claims of 237,000 for the week ended Aug. 30 versus 229,000 in the preceding week and estimates for 230,000. Trade deficit widened to $78.31 billion in July from $59.09 billion previously, compared with estimates for a $77.9 billion gap. Nonfarm productivity rose by 3.3% in Q2 versus estimates for a 2.7% gain, while unit labor costs rose by 1% versus estimates for a 1.2% gain.

The Institute for Supply Management's non-manufacturing purchasing managers' index, slated for 10 am ET, is seen coming in at 50.9 for August versus 50.1 in the previous month.

In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 1.5% higher, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 1.1% lower, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 1.3% lower. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was up 0.2%, and Germany's DAX index was 0.6% higher in Europe's early afternoon session.

In equities, American Eagle Outfitters ( AEO ) shares were 25% higher after the company reported late Wednesday higher fiscal Q2 earnings.

On the losing side, Artelo Biosciences ( ARTL ) stock was down 50% after the company said it priced an offering of over 640,000 shares at $4.40 each and pre-funded warrants to acquire 40,894 shares at $4.399 per warrant, for gross proceeds of $3 million.