U.S. stock futures advanced as data showed retail sales rose in February and jobless claims unexpectedly fell in the latest week.
Global markets:
Nikkei 14,815.98 -14.41 -0.10%
Hang Seng 21,756.08 -145.87 -0.67%
Shanghai Composite 2,019.11 +21.42 +1.07%
FTSE 6,611.31 -9.59 -0.14%
CAC 4,312.76 +6.50 +0.15%
DAX 9,217.45 +28.76 +0.31%
Crude oil $97.78 (-0.21%)
Gold $1366.30 (-0.31%).