U.S. stock futures were pointing to a moderately higher start Thursday, helped by a decline in weekly jobless claims, a stronger-than-expected profit report from Cisco Systems and a stock buyback at Research In Motion.

  London shares trade lower on Thursday after the Bank of England leaves its key interest rates on hold but expands its asset-purchase plan by 25 billion pounds ($41 billion).

  European shares trade lower on Thursday, after the Bank of England expands its asset buying program and the European Central Bank keeps its key rate on hold amid another hectic day for corporate earnings.

  U.S. companies increase their output in the third quarter even as they slash working hours, driving productivity up at a 9.5% annual rate in the quarter, the Labor Department estimates.

  A roundup of the latest corporate earnings reports and what companies are saying about future quarters.

  The number of people filing initial claims for state unemployment benefits fallsl by 20,000 to a seasonally adjusted 512,000 in the week ending Oct. 31, the Labor Department reports.

  As the Bank of England expands its quantitative-easing program to the tune of $41 billion, neither the central bank nor the European Central Bank makes any changes to its respective benchmark lending rates.

  U.S. retailers post better-than-expected October sales, helped by a bout of cold weather that bolstered seasonal merchandise, continued promotions, and easier comparisons against downbeat sales a year earlier.

  As the first grants from $10 billion in federal stimulus to health research flow in, researchers believe they may see a renaissance in their profession that inspires a new generation of scientists and speeds up the race for many cures for years to come.

  As the nation’s population grows and ages, the demand for language services in hospitals, doctor’s offices and other health-care arenas is booming, experts say.