Stock index futures pointed to a higher start for Wall Street on Thursday ahead of a flurry of results as well as U.S. core personal consumption expenditure, jobless figures and Chicago PMI data.

* At 0901 GMT futures for the S&P 500 were up 1.7 percent, the Dow Jones futures gained 1.4 percent and the Nasdaq futures were 1.8 percent higher.

* The FTSEurofirst 300 <.FTEU3> index of top European shares was up 1.7 percent at 830.01 points, led by mining stocks, as a wave of European blue-chip earnings gave investors reason for optimism.

* Talks between the U.S. Treasury Department and Chrysler LLC lenders aimed at cutting the automaker's debt and keeping it out of bankruptcy broke down late on Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the discussions.

The collapse of talks make it all but certain that Chrysler -- 80 percent controlled by private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP -- will file for bankruptcy, the WSJ said, citing those sources.

* Procter & Gamble

is expected to discuss what it is doing to attract cost-conscious shoppers when it reports fiscal third-quarter results. The company's earnings are expected to be unchanged from a year ago at 82 cents per share.

* A sharp drop in oil and gas prices is expected to have halved earnings at Exxon Mobil , the world's largest publicly traded company. According to Reuters Estimates, analysts are expecting Exxon to report earnings of 94 cents per share, down from $2.03 in the same quarter last year.

* Dow Chemical is expected to shed light on its efforts to sell assets to trim its heavy debt load when it releases quarterly earnings. Analysts expect the company to post a loss of 19 cents per share for the quarter, down from a profit of 99 cents per share a year ago.

* Colgate-Palmolive , which has fared better than some rival manufacturers in the recession, is expected to report a rise of 7 cents per share in profit to 97 cents for the first quarter.

* When Motorola reports earnings investors will be looking for any signs of improvement in its mobile phone division and for forecasts for when management expects it to turn profitable. Wall Street analysts are expecting a loss of 11 cents per share for the quarter.

* NYSE Euronext's first-quarter profit dropped 55 percent, in line with expectations, as the financial crisis took its toll on the exchange group.

* Life insurer MetLife kicks off the first quarter reporting season for large life insurers, in what is seen as the worst ever quarter for the sector. Analysts are expecting it to report that earnings sank to 37 cents per share from $1.52 a year ago.

* Key this quarter at Monster Worldwide is the performance of its European business. The company is seen slipping to a loss of 10 cents per share from earnings of 24 cents per share a year ago.

* Grocery chain Safeway reports quarterly results, with Wall Street analysts expecting earnings of 40 cents per share, down 4 cents from a year ago.

* Kellogg Co's earnings will be watched by analysts for signs of consumers leaving branded manufactures for lower-priced private-label brands. Kellogg's quarter profit is expected to come in at 79 cents per share, down from 81 cents a year ago.

* Starbucks Corp shares fell more than 5 percent in extended trading on Wednesday after the company posted quarterly results.

* Shares in Bank of America rose nearly 1 percent to $8.75 in extended trading on Wednesday after the bank's chief executive was stripped of his role as chairman.

* At 1230 GMT the Commerce Department releases March personal income and consumption data. Economists in a Reuters survey expect a fall of 0.2 percent in March income and a 0.1 percent decrease in spending.

* At 1345 GMT, the Institute of Supply Management Chicago releases April index of manufacturing activity. Economists in a Reuters survey forecast a reading of 35.0 in the month compared with 31.4 in March.

* U.S. stocks climbed on Wednesday after grim growth data offered hints of future expansion, a prospect reinforced by the hopeful comments from the Federal Reserve.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 2.1 percent, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 2.2 percent and the Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was 2.3 percent higher.

(Reporting by Joanne Frearson; Editing by Greg Mahlich)

Investment Citigroup