Stock Futures Underwhelm as Jobs Data Marks 10-Week High

Stock futures are muted this morning, as investors continue to unpack comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Initial jobless claims for last week came in at 211,000, a 10-week high and the first jump above 200,000 in eight weeks. Investors are already heavily focused on Friday's nonfarm payrolls data. Meanwhile, Silvergate Capital (SI), one of the main banks in the crypto industry, is liquidating, following its recent plunge.

Continue reading for more on today's market, including:.

• The newest Schaeffer's Market Mashup features Jermal Chandler of tastylive. 
• A look at Gap's post-earnings history ahead of Friday's results.  
• Plus, Uber's potential spinoff; MDB drops on forecast; and HLT upgraded. 

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 861,489 call contracts and 627,214 put contracts traded on Wednesday. The single-session equity put/call ratio fell to 0.73 and the 21-day moving average stayed at 0.78.
2. The shares of Uber Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:UBER) are up 1.6% premarket, after Bloomberg reported that the company might spin off its freight logistics division. Analysts at Gordon Haskett noted that the division could be worth $5 billion. Year-to-date, the equity is up 35.7%. 
3. MongoDB Inc (NASDAQ:MDB) is down 10% before the bell, despite the company's fourth-quarter results beat, as it also issued weak guidance. No fewer than six analysts slashed their price targets, though Needham lifted to $250 from $240. On the charts, overhead pressure at MDB's 200-day moving average has provided a stiff ceiling since early February. 
4. Barclays upgraded Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc (NYSE:HLT) to "overweight" from "equal weight," with a price-target hike to $168 from $151. HLT is up 1% premarket, and sporting a 16.7% year-to-date lead. 
5. There is no more economic data of note today. 

Stocks Slip Overseas

Asian markets were mostly lower on Thursday, as traders unpacked 1% growth for China’s consumer price index (CPI) -- its slowest rise in just over one year. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng shed 0.6%, while South Korea’s Kospi and China’s Shanghai Composite fell 0.5% and 0.2%, respectively. The Nikkei in Japan was the only gainer with a 0.6% pop, following the kickoff of the Bank of Japan’s (BoJ) two-day monetary policy meeting.

European markets are also lower, with the prospect of higher interest rates in the U.S. looming large. Mining stocks are bearing the brunt of today’s losses, while food and beverage stocks are leading the gainers. At last check, France’s CAC 40 and the German DAX are each 0.5% lower, while London’s FTSE 100 is down 0.7%.