* Producer price index, jobless claims data on tap
* China March inflation accelerates to 5.4 pct - media
* Futures dip: S&P 6.2 pts, Dow 48 pts, Nasdaq 15.50 pts
* For up-to-the-minute market news see []
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By Angela Moon
NEW YORK, April 14 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures
fell on Thursday before U.S. data that could shed light on the
impact of rising commodity prices and as concerns grew over
Chinese inflation.
Risk appetite retreated on fears of a tighter money policy
in China after a media report suggested the country's inflation
figures will be higher than expected in March. For details, see
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In addition, investors will be closely eyeing U.S. producer
price index figures for March due at 8:30 a.m (1230 GMT).
Producer prices are forecast to rise to 6.2 percent from 5.6
percent a year ago.
Investors were also cautious before corporate results
because of the effect of supply chain disruptions arising from
the earthquakes in Japan.
"It's the cautious guidance from companies due to concerns
about inflation and Japan that are going to weigh on
investors," said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at
Avalon Partners in New York.
"I see the market trading within the 3-4 percent range from
the upper end to the lower end in this earnings season. I don't
see it as a catalyst to move the market much higher."
Google <GOOG.O> is scheduled to release results after
markets close on Thursday, with analysts expecting to see a 25
percent year-on-year increase in net revenue to $6.32 billion
and earnings per share of $8.10, up from $6.76 a year earlier.
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S&P 500 futures <SPc1> fell 6.2 points and were below fair
value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account
interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the
contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures <DJc1> fell 48
points and Nasdaq 100 futures <NDc1> lost 15.50 points.
In a frenzy to protect itself at the start of the credit
crisis, Goldman Sachs Group Inc <GS.N> sold mortgage-linked
derivatives to clients at inflated prices and misrepresented
the nature of the deals, documents released by a Senate
subcommittee said. [] Goldman Sachs shares fell
1.2 percent to $158.20 in premarket trade.
Other U.S. government data includes weekly jobless claims
at 8:30 a.m. Economists in a Reuters survey expect claims fell
to 380,000 from 382,000 last week.
Commodities trader Glencore outlined its initial public
offering of up to $12 billion, including plans for a May debut
that will boost its firepower for acquisitions and make paper
millionaires of its partners. []
U.S. regulators are probing whether some major banks
colluded to manipulate a global benchmark interest rate before
and during the financial crisis, the Wall Street Journal
reported, citing people familiar with the situation.
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Italian car maker Fiat <FIA.MI> wants to hike its stake in
Chrysler to 46 percent by June, an Italian daily said.
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Suppliers to Apple Inc <AAPL.O> have begun production of
white iPhones after a delay of almost 10 months, two people
familiar with the situation said on Thursday. []
(Reporting by Angela Moon, Editing by Kenneth Barry)
