U.S. stock futures rose after firm readings on the labor market and manufacturing activity, as blue chips look to extend a recent streak of gains to seven sessions.

Less than 60 minutes before the opening bell, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gained 25 points, or 0.2%, to 13155. The Dow is on a six-session streak of gains, the longest such run since an eight-session streak ended in February.

Standard & Poor's 500-stock index futures tacked on 3 points, or 0.2%, to 1392 and Nasdaq 100 futures advanced 9 points, or 0.3%, to 2711. The S&P 500 fell 0.1% Wednesday, but the Nasdaq Composite edged up less than 0.1% to close at the highest level since Nov. 15, 2000.

Changes in stock futures don't always accurately predict stock moves after the opening bell.

Stock futures held gains after a raft of U.S. economic data. The number of U.S. workers filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell last week, the latest sign that the labor market is improving. Initial jobless claims tumbled by 14,000 to a seasonally adjusted 351,000 last week. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires had forecast that claims would fall by 5,000.

New York manufacturing activity accelerated in March. The Empire State's business conditions index increased for the fourth consecutive month to 20.21 from 19.53 in February, the highest in well over a year. Economists had expected the index to drop to 17.9.

U.S. wholesale prices increased in February at the fastest pace in five months, driven by rising gasoline costs. The producer price index increased a seasonally adjusted 0.4%, slightly less the expectations for a 0.5% rise.

Still due at 10 a.m. is a reading of manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia region, which is expected to show a slight increase in March.

European markets mostly edged higher, with the Stoxx Europe 600 up less than 0.1%. London's FTSE 100 Index declined 0.2% after Fitch Ratings cuts its outlook on the U.K. to negative, saying the country's financial flexibility was "very limited."

Asian bourses were mostly lower, with China's Shanghai Composite falling 0.7%, while Japan's Nikkei Stock Average rose 0.7% to post its third consecutive gain.

Crude futures gained 0.1% to $105.58 a barrel, while gold futures added 0.1% to $1,645.00 a troy ounce. The U.S. dollar lost ground against both the euro and the yen.

In corporate news, a Dutch court said Samsung Electronics can't pursue injunctions against Apple for infringing patents as long as Apple is willing to negotiate license agreements. Shares of Apple rose 1.4% in premarket trading, as shares neared $600 for the first time.

Guess reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings that were in line with expectations, but revenue fell short, and the company provided first-quarter earnings and revenue outlooks well below current projections. Shares of the apparel and accessories retailer slumped 12% in premarket trading.

In deal news, Cisco is nearing a deal to acquire digital-television company NDS for roughly $4 billion. Cisco fell 1.1% before the open.

Capital One Financial said it plans to offer up to $1.25 billion worth of its common stock in a public sale to help fund its previously-announced acquisition of HSBC's U.S. credit card business. The stock slipped 0.6% ahead of the open.

Radvision agreed to be acquired by Avaya in a deal valued at $230 million. Shares of the video conferencing technologies company tacked on 4.7% in the premarket.

Vera Bradley reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings and revenue that topped estimates, but provided a first-quarter earnings outlook that was below current projections. The stock slid 5.7% in the premarket.

Winnebago Industries reported better-than-expected fiscal second-quarter revenue, but also surprise loss for the quarter because of increased discounts and aggressive pricing strategies. The stock was still inactive ahead of the open.

-By Chris Dieterich, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2611; christopher.dieterich@dowjones.com