U.S. stock futures edged higher on Thursday after a government report showed the number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits fell by 9,000 last week.

Here at home, Canada’s merchandise trade surplus with the world shrank to $2.4 billion, its lowest level since November 1998, as merchandise exports declined and imports edged up in December.

Exports fell 3.1% to $36.7 billion as only one sector — energy products –recorded gains. In constant dollar terms, a method used to isolate volume changes, export volumes fell 6.5%, while prices rose 3.6%.

Imports inched up 0.7% to $34.3 billion. Prices increased 3.4%, while volumes declined 2.7%. Energy products were the main factor behind the gain in imports, offsetting a decline in automotive products.

The Canadian dollar opened at US100.15¢ this morning, down less than one-fifth of a cent from Wednesday’s close.

South of the border, all eyes will be on Federal Reserve Bank Chairman Ben Bernanke when he appears with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson before a U.S. Senate committee on banking and housing at 10:00 ET. The two will discuss current economic and financial conditions.

In today’s earnings news, Marriott International posted a 20% drop in fourth-quarter net income on losses from its discontinued synthetic-fuel business as the hotel owner and operator saw strong revenue growth, especially in its luxury brands. The company also lowered its view for 2008 earnings, reflecting the slowing U.S. economy.

Later today, quarterly results are due from Manulife Financial, Sun Life, IGM and Great-West Lifeco.

Overseas, Japan’s Nikkei stock average jumped 4.27% following strong economic growth figures and sizable gains on Wall Street on Wednesday.

In morning trading, Britain’s FTSE 100 rose 0.52%, Germany’s DAX index rose 0.48% and France’s CAC-40 added 0.7%.

Surprisingly strong January retail sales figures from the U.S. allayed investor fears of a recession and helped push Toronto markets higher on Wednesday.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 194.92 points, or 1.49%, at 13,282.30.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index closed up 24.52, or 0.97%, at 2,561.31.

In New York, U.S. stocks ended sharply higher on Wednesday as an unexpected rise in U.S. retail sales during January eased recession worries and strong results out of the semiconductor sector lifted technology shares.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 178.83 points, or 1.45%, to close at 12,552.24.

The S&P 500 closed up 18.35 points, or 1.36%, at 1,367.21.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index also made gains, closing up 53.89 points, or 2.32%, at 2,373.93.