US equity futures were mixed pre-bell Thursday amid reports that Iran and Oman are close to an agreement regarding passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.2% higher, S&P 500 futures were up 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.5% lower.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said that a joint announcement is being finalized regarding a shipping route through the waterway, which lies between Iran and Oman. An Iranian government official told MS Now that the temporary deal aims to allow the restart of the ceasefire between the US and Iran and the beginning of another 60-day round of negotiations, according to a CNBC report.

Traders digested the latest round of earnings, with ConocoPhillips (COP) reporting higher adjusted earnings and revenue for Q2.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 1% at $80.28 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 0.8% higher at $75.85 per barrel.

The weekly jobless claims bulletin, scheduled for release at 8:30 am ET, is expected to show 205,000 new unemployment claims for the week ended Aug. 1, up from 197,000 in the prior week, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg. The Q2 nonfarm productivity report is expected to show an annual gain of 0.6% after a 0.3% increase in the prior quarter. Unit labor costs are projected to rise 2.1%, compared with 1.8% previously.

Federal Reserve St. Louis President Alberto Musalem is slated to speak on Thursday.