U.S. stock index futures traded lower on Thursday as traders digested developments in Europe, where the latest monetary policy meeting of the European Central Bank (ECB) took place.
The ECB kept benchmark interest rates unchanged at zero and maintained its quantitative easing program at its current levels.
President Mario Draghi said in a news conference the central bank did not discuss extending its asset purchase program. The pan-European Stoxx 600 Index was down 0.04 percent.
On the data front in the U.S., initial jobless claims fell 4,000 to 259,000, with consumer credit due at 3:00 p.m. ET.
In oil markets, Brent crude traded at $48.60 a barrel on Thursday, up 1.29 percent, while U.S. crude rose 1.56 percent to $46.25 a barrel.
In Asia, Japan's Nikkei closed 0.32 percent lower on Thursday, while in China the Shanghai composite closed 0.15 percent higher.
—CNBC's Arjun Kharpal and Holly Ellyatt contributed to this report