US stock futures were trending slightly lower in Thursday's premarket session as investors await weekly initial jobless claims set for release later in the morning, as well as the non-farm payrolls report coming out on Friday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down 0.20%, S&P 500 futures were off 0.15%, and Nasdaq futures were declining 0.2%.

Initial jobless claims are expected to rise to 222,000 from 218,000 the previous week, according to Bloomberg.

Oil prices were moving sharply higher as the prospect of an all-out war in the Middle East grows with front-month global benchmarks Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate crude rising 1.9% and 2.1% respectively.

In equities, shares of Pineapple Energy (PEGY) jumped 58% in recent Thursday premarket activity, following an 8% loss the previous session. MicroAlgo (MLGO) shares surged 29%, adding to a 22% gain on Wednesday. And shares of Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust (WHLR) advanced 27% after soaring 99% the previous session.

On the losing side, shares of ALT5 Sigma (ALTS) tumbled 11%, following a 2.7% loss on Wednesday. Fangdd Network Group (DUO) shares lost 17%, eating into its 29% gain the previous session. And shares of Windtree Therapeutics (WINT) dropped 17%, adding to a 29% loss Wednesday.