Stock futures edge up ahead of U.S. jobs data

LONDON (Reuters) - Stock futures for the S&P 500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq were 0.02 to 0.2 percent higher at 0917 GMT (5:17 a.m. EDT), pointing to a slightly firmer start for equities on Thursday.

At 1230 GMT (8:30 a.m. EDT), investors will eye the release of U.S. Labor Dept first-time claims for jobless benefits for the week ended August 14. Economists in a Reuters survey forecast a total of 476,000 new filings compared with 484,000 in the prior week.

Other economic indicators set to be released on Thursday include U.S. July leading economic indicators and the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank August business activity survey. Both are due out at 1400 GMT (10 a.m. EDT).

Earnings will be in focus, with Hewlett-Packard reporting third-quarter figures, and Dell , Gamestop, Gap, Salesforce.com , Sears and Staples all releasing second-quarter results.

In corporate news, BHP Billiton is focusing on getting regulatory approval for its $39 billion hostile bid for Potash Corp before trying in earnest to win over the Canadian company's shareholders, a source said on Thursday.

American International Group Inc is laying the groundwork for its first debt offering in two years, in what could be a key measure of whether investors think the bailed-out insurance giant can stand on its own and ultimately repay taxpayer funds, according to the Wall Street Journal.

In earnings news after the bell on Wednesday, U.S. data storage equipment maker NetApp Inc's quarterly profit more than doubled, but its revenue beat Wall Street estimates by the smallest margin in four quarters.

Congressional analysts are set to release an authoritative outlook on budget deficits on Thursday, as U.S. President Barack Obama tries to ease voter anxiety about the spending gaps that some fear may thwart efforts to revive the economy.

Oil rose to over $76 on Thursday, boosted by a rally in Asian equities, as investors focused on the prospects for accelerating Chinese demand for natural resources.

European shares edged 0.1 percent higher on Thursday, with Nokia up on acquisition talk, although gains were limited as cement-maker Holcim fell on poor earnings and a cautious outlook.

Wall Street rose on Wednesday, led by gains in consumer stocks after a sales forecast from discounter Target Corp temporarily quelled concerns about consumer demand.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 0.1 percent, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 0.2 percent and the Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 0.3 percent.

(Reporting by Joanne Frearson; editing by Simon Jessop.)