Stock futures dip on Fed comments

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures slipped on Thursday as the Federal Reserve underscored worries the recovery was not as robust as hoped and ahead of weekly initial jobless claims data.

The central bank renewed its vow on Wednesday to hold benchmark interest rates exceptionally low, and acknowledged the faltering pace of the economic recovery. Stocks closed mostly lower.

"What's really on investors' minds is whether or not there is the potential for a double dip (recession)," said Rick Meckler, president of investment firm LibertyView Capital Management in New York.

"We're seeing a renewed focus on general economic numbers as the indicator for where markets are heading every day."

Claims for first-time jobless benefits are expected at 8:30 a.m. EDT, as are durable goods orders for May. Initial claims are expected to fall to 460,000 from 472,000 the week before, while durable goods are seen dipping 1.4 percent versus a gain of 2.8 percent in April.

Footwear and clothing maker Nike Inc reported a jump in quarterly profits, but cautioned that the strong dollar and higher costs would weigh on earnings and sales in the coming year. Nike's shares were down 3.2 percent in Frankfurt.

S&P 500 futures fell 8.4 points and were below fair value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures lost 59 points, and Nasdaq 100 futures shed 16.75 points.

Facing a self-imposed Thursday evening deadline, lawmakers must still sort out the most controversial provisions in a historic overhaul of U.S. financial rules. Democrats in charge of the process appear likely to retain tough restrictions on banks' trading and investment activities that could crimp profits.

BP Plc resumed collecting oil from its leaking Gulf of Mexico well after a temporary setback, while a poll showed the environmental disaster is draining public confidence in U.S. President Barack Obama. BP's U.S.-listed shares rose 1.7 percent to $30.17 in premarket trade.

Apple Inc's newest iPhone hit Japanese stores in its global debut overnight and also debuts in the United States, France, Germany and the UK.

Google Inc won a victory over media companies as a federal judge threw out Viacom Inc's $1 billion lawsuit that accused the Internet search giant of allowing copyrighted videos on its YouTube service without permission.

Dell Inc forecast a jump of 14 percent to 19 percent in fiscal 2011 revenues as consumer and corporate spending returns, matching expectations.

Hasbro Inc shares jumped 12 percent to $46 after the Wall Street Journal reported Providence Equity Partners was in preliminary talks over a leveraged buyout of the toymaker.

(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

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