US Futures show a neutral start of the session

U.S. stock index futures were slightly higher Thursday as investors digest the recent market volatility and developments surrounding the U.S.-China trade war.

At around 8a.m. ET, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 7 points, indicating a gain of 31.73 points. Futures on the S&P500 and Nasdaq 100 also pointed to slight gains at the open.

Market participants are gradually becoming more optimistic about the prospect of the U.S. and China reaching a comprehensive trade agreement. It follows a flurry of news this week pointing to cooling tensions between the two global powers.

On Wednesday, Reuters reported Chinese state-owned companies had bought more than 1.5 million tons of U.S. soybeans. It was the first major U.S. soybean purchases in more than six months, and the clearest sign to date that China plans to step up efforts to support its slowing economy.

U.S. stocks finished higher on Wednesday, buoyed by the perceived progress in trade talks between Washington and Beijing.

General Electric shares jumped more than 8 percent in the premarket after J.P. Morgan analyst Stephen Tusa, a longtime bear on the company, upgraded GE. The analyst cited a more "balanced risk reward at current levels."

Source: CNBC

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