Stocks poised to open higher after steep sell off

NEW YORK – Stocks appear poised to rebound, a day after suffering their worst losses in seven months.

A monthly report on consumer prices and a weekly tally of first-time claims for unemployment insurance are due out Thursday morning. Economists forecast that the Consumer Price Index rose 0.4 percent in February. Initial unemployment benefit claims are expected to drop.

Financial markets were gripped by fear over Japan's nuclear crisis on Wednesday, with stocks losing nearly all their gains for the year. The three major stock indexes are down 3.6 percent for the week.

Ahead of the opening bell, Dow Jones industrial average futures are up 55, or 0.5 percent, at 11,633. S&P 500 index futures are up 8.8, or 0.7 percent, at 1,262. Nasdaq 100 index futures are up 11, or 0.5 percent, at 2,219.