U.S. stock futures rose as jobless claims held at a four-year low and after German business confidence climbed more than economists forecast. Stock futures maintained gains as applications for jobless benefits were unchanged in the week ended Feb. 18 at 351,000, the fewest since March 2008, Labor Department figures showed today.

German business confidence rose more than economists forecast to a seven-month high in February as Europe’s largest economy bucks a recession that’s gripping the region’s southern fringe.

Global stocks:

Nikkei  9,595.57 +41.57 +0.44%

Hang Seng 21,380.99 -168.29 -0.78%

Shanghai Composite 2,409.55 +5.97 +0.25%

FTSE  5,935.19 +18.64 +0.32%

CAC  3,451.33 +3.96 +0.11%

DAX 6,816.88 -26.99 -0.39%

Crude oil: $106.25 (-0,1%).

Gold: $1782.50 (+0,6%).