U.S. stock-market futures indicated a slightly higher open Thursday, as investors looked to retail earnings for clues on the health of the consumer while awaiting a slew of economic data and a speech from the Federal Reserve Chairman.

The day’s U.S. economic docket is chock full and includes data on industrial production, housing and jobless claims that might deliver more insight about the economy’s direction.

As well, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will be in Chicago to speak on risk management at banks, while Federal Reserve Governor Frederic Mishkin will be speaking on asset price bubbles after the close.

Here at home, manufacturers gave back some of their recent gains in March as factory sales retreated 1.6% to $49.0 billion.

The scope of March’s slowdown was extensive as 18 of the 21 manufacturing industries, representing 76% of total sales, posted declines. A sharp downturn in motor vehicle manufacturing was the chief contributor.

The Canadian dollar opened at US99.78 cents, up 0.21 cent from its close Wednesday.

In today’s M&A news, U.S. broadcaster CBS said early Thursday that it will acquire online news provider CNET for US$11.50 a share, or about US$1.8 billion. CNET’s board has approved the deal and recommended it to shareholders.

General Electric Co. is reportedly planning to sell its appliance business. The Wall Street Journal says GE has hired Goldman Sachs to run an auction for the unit, said to be worth up to US$8 billion.

Earnings from Blackstone Group, Nordstrom, J.C. Penney and Blockbuster are likely to take center stage Thursday.

Crude oil futures rose 69¢ to US$124.91 a barrel.

Meanwhile, overseas markets were mixed. Asian markets ended mostly higher while European shares traded flat.

Japan’s Nikkei stock average rose 0.9%, gaining 133.19 points to 14,251.74. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index edged up 0.1%.

European equity markets were little changed despite a stronger than expected report on euro-zone gross domestic product, up 0.7% in the first quarter as Germany grew at a 1.5% annualized rate.

The FTSE 100 was up 0.3% early in the afternoon in London, while the German DAX slipped 0.2% and the Paris CAC-40 was flat.

Toronto markets were buoyed by strong financials Wednesday, as Royal Bank’s writedown announcement for the second quarter wasn’t as bad as expected.

But the S&P/TSX Composite index dipped in late-day trading and closed up just 9.61 points, or 0.07%, at 14,626.31. Five of the ten major TSX groups gained today.

Royal Bank shares gained $1.23, or 2.53%, to end at $49.85, after it announced it will take a $855 million pre-tax writedown in Q2. After tax, the hit will be worth $420 million.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index closed up 11.73 points, or 0.46%, at 2567.68.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average closed up 66.20 points, or 0.52%, at 12,898.38.

The S&P 500 closed up 5.62 points, or 0.40%, to close at 1,408.66.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq closed up 1.58 points, or 0.06%, at 2,496.70.