USDA's weekly export sales report is due out at 7:30 a.m. CDT Thursday, the same time as U.S. weekly jobless claims, a report on third-quarter U.S. productivity and an update of the U.S. Drought Monitor. U.S. factory orders for September will be out at 9 a.m., followed by the U.S. Energy Department's weekly report of natural gas storage at 9:30 a.m.
Weather
Cold air that has been spreading through the country has reached its peak, with moderating temperatures in the Plains on Thursday that will continue eastward through the weekend. A system has moved into the Pacific Northwest and will bring showers there and to northern areas going into the weekend.