NEW YORK, Feb 12 (Reuters): US stock index futures advanced on Thursday, following a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine and surprising stimulus measures by Sweden's central bank.
Leaders of Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine agreed a deal to end fighting in eastern Ukraine, potentially removing a concern for investors.
Also helping to lift futures was a decision by Sweden's Riksbank to introduce negative interest rates and launch bond purchases, while saying it could take further steps to fight falling prices.
Stocks may get a boost from Cisco Systems, which jumped 6.7 per cent to $28.72 before the opening bell after the network equipment maker reported stronger-than-expected quarterly revenue and profit.
But Tesla Motors dropped 8.6 per cent to $194.50 in premarket after the electric-car maker missed fourth-quarter sales targets and analysts' profit expectations.
Talks over Greek debt with euro zone finance ministers failed to yield an agreement, with negotiations set to continue on Monday.
Investors anticipate weekly initial jobless claims data and January retail sales at 8:30 a.m. Claims are expected to rise to 285,000 from 278,000 in the prior week, while retail sales are expected to have dropped 0.5 per cent.
December business inventories data is expected later in the session at 10:00 a.m., with expectations for a rise of 0.2 per cent.
Thomson Reuters data showed that 72.4 per cent of the 352 S&P 500 components that have reported earnings beat expectations, above the 69 per cent in the past four quarters. The earnings growth rate for the quarter stands at 6.7 per cent.
S&P 500 e-minis ESc1 were up 9.75 points, or 0.47 per cent, with 176,955 contracts changing hands.
Nasdaq 100 e-minis NQc1 were up 22 points, or 0.51 per cent, in volume of 31,808 contracts.
Dow e-minis 1YMc1 were up 84 points, or 0.47 per cent, with 25,672 contracts changing hands.
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