Continuing on from solid if unspectacular gains on European bourses, US futures markets are showing modest gains in pre-open trading. S&P 500 +0.5%, Dow +0.3% and Nasdaq+0.4. Weekly jobless claims should be the main data focus in NY with market looking for a consensus 11k decline in initial claims. On the earnings front we see ExxonMobil, Procter and Gamble, Motorola and Conoco Phillips