Stock futures slightly higher, investors await GDP data

U.S. stock index futures edged slightly higher on Thursday as investors continued to digest the latest out of the crisis in Ukraine and as they looked ahead to data on U.S. fourth-quarter economic growth. * Equities have been volatile this week, driven by any sign of easing or increasing tension in the biggest conflict between Russia and the United States since the Cold War. While the market was supported by several economic indicators that pointed to improving conditions, investors used the uncertainty as an opportunity to take profits in some of the market's biggest outperformers, especially in the technology and biotech sectors. * On Wednesday, the U.S. and the European Union agreed to work together to prepare possible tougher economic sanctions in response to Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea territory, including on the energy sector.

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