US stocks set for a slightly higher open ahead of US trade deficit data and weekly unemployment claims

US stocks look set for a slightly higher open on Thursday ahead of US trade deficit data and weekly unemployment claims and in advance of Friday's key July non-farm payrolls that could provide further clues to the path of economic recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average were up 0.1%, S&P 500 index futures rose 0.2%,  while Nasdaq-100 futures also gained 0.2%. Major US stock indexes have wobbled in recent days amid concerns that the economic rebound may be slowing and the COVID-19 Delta variant is leading to a surge in cases. ADP data on Wednesday showed that the private sector added half as many jobs in July than forecast. Despite the volatility, the S&P 500 is still hovering near its all-time high, boosted by strong quarterly earnings from some of the US's biggest companies. However, not all the numbers have been good. Uber Technologies Inc (NYSE:UBER). shares dropped after-hours on Wednesday after the company reported a bigger loss than analysts expected and said it had to spend on incentives for drivers amid a shortage. And online marketplace Etsy (NASDAQ:ETSY) Inc. slumped after its results showed a slowdown in buyer growth. Five other things to watch on Thursday: Roughly half of all cars and light trucks sold in the US by 2030 would be electric, hydrogen fuel cell and plug-in hybrid vehicles under voluntary targets set to be announced Thursday by the Biden administration and backed by automakers, contingent on government support. In a joint statement, General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co., and Chrysler maker Stellantis NV (NYSE:STLA, EPA:STLA) said their commitment hinges on federal funding for manufacturing and supply-chain research and development, purchase incentives and an EV-charging network. Adidas AG felt the impact of a Chinese boycott of Western brands on its second-quarter results and is also suffering from the closure of factories in major supplier Vietnam due to rising COVID-19 infections, the Frankfurt-listed firm said. WPP PLC (LSE:WPP), the world's biggest advertising company, has recovered to 2019 business levels a year ahead of plan as clients rush to benefit from a global economic recovery from the pandemic, driving quarterly revenue growth to a record high at the London-listed group. Bayer said it acquired US-based biopharmaceuticals company Vividion Therapeutics for up to $2 billion to boost the German firm’s ability to discover new treatments and lift the value of its drug pipeline. A Boeing Co (NYSE:BA). 737 Max jet departed for China on Wednesday to conduct a flight test as part of the US planemaker's attempt to gain approval in the vital travel market following two fatal crashes, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.