U.S. stock index futures rose in early morning trading on Thursday as markets looked to continued February's momentum.
Futures for the Dow Jones gained 68 points, or 0.2%, to 31,396
Futures for the S&P 500 gathered 11.25 points, or 0.3%, at 3,914.25.
Futures for the NASDAQ Composite surged 58 points, or 0.4%, to 13,701.50.
For the week all three major averages are higher, and on track to post their second positive week in a row. While still early in the month, the indexes are also higher for February.
A busy week of earnings will continue on Thursday. PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz and Kellogg are among the names set to report before the market opens. Disney and Expedia will give their quarterly reports after the bell on Thursday.
Of the S&P 500 components that have reported earnings thus far, more than 80% have topped Wall Street's expectations, according to experts.
Investors awaited data on weekly jobless claims, due 8:30 a.m. ET Thursday. Economists polled by Dow Jones expect new claims for jobless benefits to come in at 760,000 last week, slightly lower than a total of 779,000 in the week prior.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Wednesday that the economy faces challenges in the labour market, and so monetary policy needs to stay "patiently accommodative." In remarks at the Economic Club of New York, Powell said the employment picture is a "long way" from where it needs to be.
Overseas, Japanese markets were shuttered for the Lunar New Year, while, in an abbreviated session, the Hang Seng index rose 0.5%
Oil prices dipped 40 cents to $58.28 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices inched up 20 cents to $1,842.90 U.S.