U.S. index futures sentiments indicated a lower open

U.S. stock index futures indicated a lower open on Thursday morning as traders eyed the release of initial jobless claims at 8:30 a.m. ET and consumer credit at 3:00 p.m ET.

Thursday will also see an historic gathering, with current Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen appearing alongside former chairmen Ben Bernanke, Alan Greenspan and Paul Volcker at 5:30 p.m. ET in New York. The program is entitled "When the Fed speaks, the world listens."

In oil markets, which have been a driver for equities in recent months, Brent crude turned lower to trade near $39.70 while WTI was off 22 cents around $37.55

Bernstein and Jefferies downgraded Verizon (VZ) Level from Buy to Hold;

Brean Capital shares gave Intel (INTC) rating Buy; BMO Capital increase target price of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) to $ 23 from $ 20; JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley increased the target price of Pfizer (PFE), respectively, to $ 38 and $ 38. These messages are likely to support shares INTC, HPE, PFE in early trading today.

The strongest "premarket"-growth: Tesla Motors, Inc., NASDAQ (+ 1.0135%); and Barrick Gold Corporation, NYSE (+ 2.0043%); the strongest decline - at Verizon Communications Inc. (-1.4948%).