U.S. Stock Futures Rise

(REUTERS) -- Stock index futures rose on Thursday, adding to gains from the previous session when the Federal Reserve boosted equities by saying it was likely to keep interest rates near zero until at least late 2014.

The Fed's statement boosted risk assets globally as investors bet low rates would push money towards those assets and boost the economy. The FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of leading European shares rose 0.7 percent, Brent rose over $110, and copper gained for a second day.

The Fed's move comes at a busy period during U.S. corporate earningsseason. So far only 57 percent of companies have beat analysts' forecasts compared to 70 percent in past quarters at a comparable stage in the earnings season. Caterpillar (CAT.N), the world's largest maker of earth-moving equipment and 3M Corp (MMM.N) are set to report Thursday.

S&P 500 futures rose 3.7 points and were above fair value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures were up 17 points, and Nasdaq futures rose 4.75 points.

Greece was still a wildcard for markets as its leaders resumed tortuous negotiations on a debt swap with private creditors in Athens on Thursday. All eyes on the European Central Bank after IMF chief Christine Lagarde said public sector holders of Greek debt may also need to take haircuts, as losses from face value are known.

The S&P 500 is up over 23 percent from lows in October as investors welcome signs that the U.S. economy is improving and credit conditions in Europe are easing after the bloc's central bank moved to boost liquidity in the financial system.

U.S. initial jobless claims are seen correcting up to 370,000 from 352,000 the week before, mostly from the smaller seasonal factor in the week ended January 21 after a reading where claims sunk to a nearly 4-year low. The data is due at 8:0 a.m. (1330 GMT).

Also at 830 a.m., the transportation sector could be a wildcard for December durable goods data, but is seen exerting only a modest drag, pulling the headline down to a 2.0 percent gain from 3.7 percent the month before, according to a Reuters poll of 69 economists.

Starbucks (SBUX.O), the world's biggest coffee chain, reports quarterly results and may offer an early read on the success of its lightest yet Blonde roast coffee and an update on its recently introduced K-cups for Green Mountain's (GMCR.O) popular Keurig one-cup brewers.