The main focus looked likely to be on the implications for banks and other financial institutions of the U.S. government's extensive proposals for regulatory reform unveiled by President Barack Obama on Wednesday, which saw the KBW Bank index <.BKX> fall 3.3 percent.
"Alarm bells are starting to ring that the implementation of over-zealous regulation could well blunt the recovery of the economy," said David Buik, analyst at BGC Partners in London.
Two S&P 500 companies are scheduled to report quarterly results: credit card network Discover Financial Services
Another stock in the spotlight could be Lions Gate Entertainment Corp
The U.S. economic data calendar has weekly jobless claims at 1230 GMT, May leading indicators at 1400 GMT and the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank's June business activity survey index, also at 1400 GMT.
(Reporting by Peter Starck; Editing by Jon Loades-Carter)