WAL - Investors Bet Bank Crisis has Stabilized Markets Hike

Stock futures rose Thursday, building on the sharp gains from the previous session, as traders bet the regional banking crisis has stabilized.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials took flight 198 points, or 0.6%, to begin Thursday at 33,101.

Futures for the S&P 500 surged 22.75 points, or 0.6%, to 4,080.25.

Futures for the NASDAQ Composite gathered 65 points, or 0.5%, to 13,030.25.

Regional banks ticked higher in the premarket. Shares of Western Alliance picked up 3%, and PacWest gained 2%.

On Thursday, investors will watch for economic data on weekly jobless claims and the gross domestic product. Boston Federal Reserve President Susan Collins, Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin and Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari are all slated to speak in the afternoon.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 lost 0.4% Thursday, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng added 0.6%.

Oil prices gained 57 cents to $73.54 U.S. a barrel.

Gold prices gained $2.10 to $1,986.60 U.S. an ounce.