US stock futures were mostly higher on Thursday, with contracts on both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 up 0.1%, while Dow Jones futures hovered near the flatline. Investor anxiety eased after President Trump denied reports that he was planning to dismiss Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, calming markets following earlier speculation. Attention now turns to a fresh round of key economic data including retail sales and jobless claims, which will provide further insight into the health of the US economy. On the earnings front, PepsiCo shares rose 1.7% in premarket trading after the company posted quarterly earnings and revenue that exceeded expectations, despite softening demand for its food and beverage products in North America. Netflix is also scheduled to report its earnings after the closing bell.