Futures lower ahead of claims, manufacturing data

U.S. stock index futures dipped on Thursday, after the S&P 500 wrapped up its best year since 1997, ahead of data on manufacturing and the labor market. * The S&P 500 (^GSPC) closed out 2013 with a 29.6 percent gain for the year, its best annual performance since 1997, while the Dow (^DJI) climbed 26.5 percent in its best year since 1995. The Nasdaq (^IXIC) jumped 38.3 percent, its best year since 2009. * Investors will eye labor market data in the form of weekly initial jobless claims at 8:30 a.m. (1330 GMT).

via Business News - Yahoo Finance http://finance.yahoo.com/news/futures-lower-ahead-claims-manufacturing-121351573.html