By Anora Mahmudova and Barbara Kollmeyer, MarketWatch

Salesforce.com, Kohl's among stocks in focus

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock futures headed lower as investors shifted their attention to a batch of weaker-than-expected economic reports on Thursday.

Consumer prices tumbled in January and inflation turned negative compared with 12 months ago. Falling inflation, largely due to a sharp drop in oil prices, increased real wages, however persistent disinflation will complicate the Federal Reserve's desire to begin normalizing interest rates sometime this year.

Weekly jobless claims jumped by more than expected, above 300,000 level. Meanwhile durable-goods orders were higher than expected.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJH5) headed south, dipping 10 points to 18,188, while those for the S&P 500 index (SPH5) turned flat at 2,109.40. Futures for the Nasdaq-100 (NDH5) were also flat at 4,439.

Read: Stock gains are making us dangerously complacent (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/stock-market-gains-are-making-us-dangerously-complacent-2015-02-25)

The Dow industrials was the only big index to close at a record on Wednesday, though it managed just a 0.1% gain. Markets gained as Yellen gave her second day of testimony before Congress, though those rises largely faded. The Nasdaq Composite (RIXF) finished down 0.02%, breaking its 10-day winning streak.

Read: Opinion: Company executives are betting on this bull market (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/company-executives-are-betting-on-this-bull-market-2015-02-25)

(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/company-executives-are-betting-on-this-bull-market-2015-02-25)Also coming, at 9 a.m. Eastern time, is the release of the Federal Housing Finance Agency home-price index for December.

Stocks in focus: Shares of UIL Holdings Corp.(UIL) rose 16% in premarket trading after Spanish utility Iberdrola ES announced plans to buy the power and gas distributor in a $3 billion cash and shares deal (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/iberdrola-to-buy-uil-holdings-for-3-billion-in-shares-cash-2015-02-26).

Shares of Salesforce.com Inc (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/salesforce-posts-strong-growth-in-deferred-sales-2015-02-25-164855910).(CRM) rose 11%. Late Wednesday, the software maker posted strong growth in deferred sales, which measures its future sales from a subscription-based business model.

Sears Holdings Corp. (SHLD) posted continuing quarterly sales losses (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/sears-targets-reit-formation-in-may-or-june-2015-02-26-6485296), while announcing that it has been successful in setting the stage to convert 200 to 300 of its stores, including Kmart locations, into a real-estate investment trust, which could generate $2 billion in profit.

Kohl's (KSS) shares rose 1.4% after the retailer beat profit and sales estimates and raised its dividend. SeaWorld Entertainment Inc (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-to-expect-from-seaworlds-earnings-2015-02-25).(SEAS) wast' budging after its loss per share was worse than expected.

Herbalife Ltd.(HLF), J.C. Penney Co. Inc.(JCP), Gap Inc.(GPS) and Ross Stores Inc.(ROST) will report after the close.

Read: Herbalife, J.C. Penney, Kohl's earnings in focus (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/herbalife-jc-penney-kohls-earnings-in-focus-2015-02-26)

(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/herbalife-jc-penney-kohls-earnings-in-focus-2015-02-26)Other markets:European stocks (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/european-stocks-rise-as-german-unemployment-falls-2015-02-26) got a small lift from news of a fall in German unemployment, while Japanese stocks (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/japan-stocks-touch-15-year-high-again-2015-02-26) once again touched a 15-year high. Gold (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gold-puts-janet-yellen-in-rearview-mirror-moves-higher-2015-02-26)(GCJ5) was looking at a second day of gains, up another $16.20 to $1,217.60 an ounce. Oil (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/oil-gives-back-some-gains-as-investors-weigh-up-supply-2015-02-26) futures (CLJ5) pulled back in the wake of Wednesday's higher prices.

Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires

J C Penney (NYSE:JCP)
Historical Stock Chart
From Feb 2024 to Mar 2024 Click Here for more J C Penney Charts.
J C Penney (NYSE:JCP)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2023 to Mar 2024 Click Here for more J C Penney Charts.