Stock futures point to slightly higher open

(Reuters) - Stock futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 1.7 percent, Dow Jones industrial average 0.1 percent higher and Nasdaq up 0.1 percent, at 4:30 a.m. EDT.

European shares rose in early trade on Thursday, extending the previous session's sharp gains as renewed hopes of a global economic recovery buoyed demand for riskier assets like equities. By 4:25 a.m. EDT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was up 0.5 percent at 1,010.80.

Discover Financial Services is reporting third-quarter numbers, with 15 analysts in a Reuters poll forecasting the company will report an earnings-per-share loss of 0.09 cents compared to a gain of 37 cents a year ago.

FedEx is reporting first-quarter numbers, with 15 analysts in a Reuters poll forecasting an earnings per share gain of 56 cents compared to $1.23 a year ago.

Shares in Oracle Corp fell 2.8 percent to $21.50 in extended trade on Wednesday after the company's quarterly software sales came in sharply below expectations, dashing hops that corporate technology spending is rebounding. Oracle shares in Frankfurt were down 1.6 percent.

Shares of Eastman Kodak fell in extended trading on Wednesday after the company said private equity firm KKR would buy up to $400 million of its senior secured notes due 2017.

At 8:30 a.m. EDT, the Labor Dept releases first-time claims for jobless benefits for the week ended September 12. Economists in a Reuters survey forecast a total of 555,000 new filings compared with 550,000 in the prior week.

The Commerce Dept. releases housing starts and permits for August at 8:30 a.m. EDT. Economists in a Reuters survey expect a 600,000 annualized rate compared with a 581,000 rate in July. A rate of 580,000 permits are expected versus a 564,000 rate in the prior month.

The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank releases September business activity survey at 10 a.m. EDT. Economists in a Reuters survey forecast a reading of 8.0 versus 4.2 in August.

Manufacturers of detergents, household cleansers and furniture polish, like Procter & Gamble Co , Colgate-Palmolive Co and others, are facing questions from consumers about the chemicals in their products, the New York Times reported.

The founders of Skype have sued owner eBay Inc and an investor group that has agreed to buy the Webphone service, accusing them of copyright violation and potentially disrupting the $1.9 billion deal.

Regulators of some of the biggest bond buyers in the world are considering cutting credit-rating firms' role in the market in response to botched ratings of complicated mortgage securities, reported the Wall Street Journal.

U.S. stocks rose for a third day on Wednesday, hitting fresh 2009 highs in a broad-based rally following economic dta that suggested a stronger-than-anticipated global recovery.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 108.30 points, or 1.12 percent, at 9,791.71. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 16.13 points, or 1.53 percent, at 1,068.76. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 30.51 points, or 1.45 percent, at 2,133.15.

(Reporting by Joanne Frearson; editing by Karen Foster)