Stock futures fall modestly ahead of open

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stock futures fell slightly after the Labor Department said first-time claims for jobless benefits fell slightly less than expected.

Workers filing for unemployment benefits fell 6,000 to 462,000 last week. Economists had been expecting a drop to 460,000.

Stocks have shown little movement in recent days as economic data hasn't been strong enough to alter views about the strength of an economic recovery.

Meanwhile, a steep jump in inflation in China has caused some concern for international markets Thursday. Rapid inflation could force China to raise interest rates.

Dow Jones industrial average futures are down 20, or 0.2 percent, at 10,545. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures are down 4.00, or 0.4 percent, at 1,141.70, while Nasdaq 100 index futures are down 6.50, or 0.3 percent, at 1,912.25.

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