Weaker dollar boosts US stock futures

NEW YORK: A weaker dollar and hopes for more good news on employment are lifting stock futures.

Dow Jones industrial average futures are up 26 at 10,356. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures are up 1 at 1,096, while Nasdaq 100 index futures are up 3 at 1,796.

Stock futures are rising as the dollar slips against other major currencies. A weaker dollar makes commodities cheaper for foreign buyers and boosts profits at U.S. companies that do business overseas.

Investors are also awaiting a report on the number of newly laid-off workers seeking jobless benefits. Analysts expect initial claims for unemployment insurance to have risen last week after dropping for five straight weeks.

Unemployment is seen as one of the economy's biggest obstacles to growth.