U.S. stock index futures pointed to a slightly lower open on Wall Street on Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.15 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.02 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.03 percent at 1:46 a.m. EST.

* Intel Corp is to report quarterly results on Thursday while economic data includes weekly jobless claims, December producer prices and the November international trade number.

* Global personal computer shipments crept up only slightly in the fourth quarter, a pair of industry trackers said on Wednesday, hurt by weak consumer holiday demand and competition from Apple's iPad tablet.

* U.S. domestic-focused equity funds had estimated redemptions of $4.229 billion in the week ended January 5, the biggest net outflow of cash in three months, data from the Investment Company Institute showed on Wednesday.

* Oil extended gains on Thursday to hold under $92 a barrel, buoyed by signs of higher demand after U.S. crude stockpiles fell more than expected and a cold snap swept through the U.S. Northeast, the region's largest heating oil market.

* Soft commodities were also in the spotlight, whith Chicago corn up 1 percent while soybeans extended gains, with both markets climbing to their highest in almost 2-1/2 years, propelled by a surprisingly steep reduction in global supply of grains and oilseeds forecast by the U.S. government.

* European stocks were down 0.4 percent in morning trade following a brisk two-day rally as investors awaited key bond auctions from Spain and Italy, as well as interest rate decisions and comments from both the Bank of England and the European Central Bank.

* U.S. stocks ended solidly higher on Wednesday after European debt fears eased and sparked a broad advance, led by banks and commodity-related shares.

* The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 83.48 points, or 0.72 percent, at 11,755.36. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 11.47 points, or 0.90 percent, at 1,285.95. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 20.50 points, or 0.75 percent, at 2,737.33.

(Reporting by Blaise Robinson; Editing by Mike Nesbit)

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