U.S. stock futures pointed to little change at the open Thursday, putting the Dow industrials and S&P 500 on track to trade near their record closes from the prior session.
Investors are waiting for fresh information on the European Central Bank's stimulus plans, and they're also due to get a reading on U.S. jobless claims.
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures edged up by 15 points, or 0.1%, to 19,532, while S&P 500 futures inched higher by 1.55 points, or 0.1%, to 2,238.25. Nasdaq-100 futures added 7.25 points, or 0.2%, to 4,849.
On Wednesday, the Dow and S&P 500 closed higher by 1.6% and 1.3%, respectively, as each gauge scored a record close. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.1%, finishing 0.1% shy of its all-time closing high, achieved in late November.
Economic news: The ECB is due to announce its rate decision at 7:45 a.m. Eastern Time, and its President Mario Draghi's news conference is slated to start at 8:30 a.m. Eastern.
The central bank is widely expected to extend a key bond-buying program by another six months.
"A cold turkey end to the program could upset the continental economy at a politically volatile time, just ahead of spring elections in France," said Colin Cieszynski, chief market strategist at CMC Markets, in a note.