US equity futures were cautiously lower pre-bell Thursday as traders digested retail earnings and a fresh batch of economic data.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down 0.4%, S&P 500 futures were 0.3% lower, and Nasdaq futures were down 0.3%.

Walmart (WMT) reported higher fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue in addition to raising its fiscal 2026 guidance.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 0.3% at $67.07 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 0.4% higher at $62.92 per barrel.

The jobless claims report, released at 8:30 am ET, showed an increase in new unemployment claims to 235,000 in the week ended Aug. 16 from 224,000 in the preceding week, compared with estimates compiled by Bloomberg for 225,000. The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing index came in at negative 0.3 for August, compared with July's 15.9 and estimates for 6.5.

The composite Purchasing Managers' Index is scheduled for release at 9:45 am ET.

The July existing home sales report, due at 10 am ET, is expected to show an annual rate of 3.92 million versus 3.93 million previously.

In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 0.7% lower, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 0.2% lower, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 0.1% higher. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was down 0.1%, and Germany's DAX index was 0.3% lower in Europe's early afternoon session.

In equities, Walmart shares were 3.1% lower. Coty (COTY) stock was down 19% after the company reported late Wednesday a wider fiscal Q4 adjusted loss amid lower revenue. ModivCare (MODV) shares were 50% lower, a day after the company said it filed for Chapter 11 protection in a Texas court.

On the winning side, Evoke Pharma (EVOK) stock was up 12% after the company said a US patent for its gastroparesis nasal spray has been listed in the US Food and Drug Administration's Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations. Cato (CATO) shares were up 18% after the company reported higher fiscal Q2 earnings and revenue year over year.