U.S. futures tick up ahead of jobs, growth data

U.S. stock index futures ticked up in low volume on Thursday ahead of data on the labor market and economic growth, with the S&P 500 poised to challenge its record high after falling a couple of points the previous session. The U.S. 10-year note yield dipped below 2.43 percent to hit its lowest in nearly 11 months before trading little changed on the day, pressured by expectations that the European Central Bank will introduce further stimulus at next week's meeting. Sliding yields could continue to entice investors into high dividend-paying stocks, with the utilities sector of the S&P 500 widely outperforming the benchmark so far this year. The Commerce Department's revised estimate of first quarter gross domestic product, due at 8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT), is expected to show the economy shrank 0.5 percent.

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