(Bloomberg) -- U.S. equity futures climbed alongside stocks in Europe on Thursday while Asian shares mostly fell as investors sift the latest company earnings and data showing another surge in the number of out-of-work Americans. Oil jumped.

Contracts for all three of the main U.S. equity benchmarks pointed to a positive start on Wall Street after a mixed session on Wednesday, when the S&P 500 finished lower but the Nasdaq advanced. News that top U.S. and Chinese negotiators will speak as soon as next week on trade helped boost sentiment. The number of new claimants for unemployment benefits surged by about 3.2 million, though a bad number was expected by investors and the market took it in stride. Treasuries edged higher.

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The Stoxx Europe 600 Index gained as most national gauges and industry sectors climbed. Crude jumped to more than $26 a barrel in New York after Saudi Arabia raised prices. The pound swung between losses and gains after the Bank of England kept its policy settings unchanged and signaled it may expand monetary stimulus as soon as next month.

Risk assets rebounded swiftly in April following a dramatic sell-off in the first quarter, but stocks have struggled for direction this month as bulls and bears duel over the outlook. Optimists point to efforts to reopen economies, a slowing rate of new infections and unprecedented stimulus. Pessimists fret over the mounting economic toll, with payrolls data from the largest economy on Friday expected to be dire.

“We remain concerned about the potential for the pandemic to have lasting effects on growth,” wrote Ron Temple, co-head of multi-asset and head of U.S. equity at Lazard Asset Management. “Countries and companies are likely to exit the crisis with significantly higher debt, curtailing their ability to invest and innovate.”

Worries about rising tension between the U.S. and China have added an extra headache for investors lately; the planned call between the two countries may signal an effort to de-escalate the situation.

Most Asian stocks slipped earlier, including in Japan where exchanges opened for the first time this week following a holiday. The yen weakened. China’s yuan advanced offshore after the country reported a surprise gain in exports, even as the coronavirus pandemic damaged global demand.

Elsewhere, the Turkish lira fell to an unprecedented low against the dollar, despite concerted efforts by authorities to keep a lid on depreciation. The Norwegian krone pared some of its advance following an unexpected interest rate cut, though it remained well up on the day.

Here are some key events coming up:

• U.K. markets will be closed on Friday for a holiday.
• Friday also brings the U.S. jobs report for April, expected to show a severe impact from the pandemic. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists calls for a 21 million plunge in payrolls.

These are the main moves in markets:

Stocks

• Futures on the S&P 500 Index increased 1.5% as of 8:31 a.m. New York time.
• The Stoxx Europe 600 Index climbed 0.8%.
• The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 0.5%.

Currencies

• The euro decreased 0.1% to $1.0782.
• The British pound fell 0.1% to $1.2336.
• The Japanese yen dipped 0.4% to 106.55 per dollar.

Bonds

• The yield on 10-year Treasuries fell one basis point to 0.69%.
• Germany’s 10-year yield decreased one basis point to -0.52%.
• Britain’s 10-year yield advanced three basis points to 0.255%.

Commodities

• Gold advanced 0.6% to $1,695.71 an ounce.
• West Texas Intermediate crude climbed 9.8% to $26.34 a barrel.

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