The Dollar & Jobless Claims

Good morning. Weakness in overseas markets and a rebound in the dollar after governments around the world stepped up efforts to stem the U.S. dollar's slide have placed pressure on the premarket futures. However, futures have improved a little following a drop in weekly jobless claims.

In othe news, Wal-Mart beats earnings and offers their outlook, filings for home-purchase mortgages sink to nine-year low while refinancings rose 11.3%, foreclosure rates fall, White House aims to cut deficit with TARP cash, IEA expressed concerns that high oil prices could derail the recovery, GE sells its security unit to United Technologies, HP to acquire 3Com for $2.7 billion and a positive art auction at Sotheby's.

Read more of my premarket report.