NEW YORK (Reuters) – Wall Street is set for a slightly lower open on Thursday, giving back some of the gains from the previous session, when the Federal Reserve boosted equities by saying it was likely to keep interest rates near zero until at least late 2014.

At 4:21 a.m. ET, futures for the S&P 500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq 100 were down between 0.1 and 0.3 percent.

The FTSEurofirst 300 (.FTEU3) index of leading European shares was up 0.3 percent at 1,042.50 points, with miners higher on stronger copper prices, which were boosted by the Fed’s statement, as were oil prices.

The euro was near five-week highs at $ 1.3110 though little changed on closing New York levels.

U.S. initial jobless claims are seen correcting up to 370,000 from 352,000 the week before, mostly from the smaller seasonal factor in the week ended January 21 after a reading where claims sunk to a nearly 4-year low. Claims just dropped 50,000 as they worked their way back from a reading that historically sees a rise in the first week of a new year. The data is due at 8:30 a.m ET.

The transportation sector could be a big wildcard for December durable goods, but is seen exerting only a modest drag, pulling the headline down to a 2.0 percent gain from 3.7 percent the month before, according to a Reuters poll of 69 economists.

Starbucks (SBUX.O), the world’s biggest coffee chain, reports quarterly results and may offer an early read on the success of its lightest yet “Blonde” roast coffee and an update on its recently introduced K-cups for Green Mountain’s (GMCR.O) popular Keurig one-cup brewers.

Other companies reporting include Caterpillar (CAT.N), the world’s largest maker of earth-moving equipment and telecoms heavyweight AT&T (T.N).

Big profits from Apple (AAPL.O) and a promise from the Federal Reserve to keep rock-bottom rates for at least two more years powered the U.S. stock market higher on Wednesday.

The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) rose 0.7 percent, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 0.9 percent, the Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) ended 1.1 percent higher.

Stanley Black and Decker (SWK.N) shares slipped 1 percent after the bell following the release of its results.

(Reporting by Brian Gorman. Editing by Jane Merriman)

(Reuters) – Stock index futures pointed to a weaker open for equities on Wall Street on Wednesday after strong gains in the previous session, with futures for the S&P 500, the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq 100 down 0.3 to 0.9 percent.

The Labor Department releases the September Consumer Price Index at 1230 GMT. Economists expect a 0.3 percent rise, compared with a 0.4 percent increase in August.

Major companies announcing results include Morgan Stanley (MS.N), American Express (AXP.N), United Technologies (UTX.N), Abbott Laboratories (ABT.N) and eBay (EBAY.O).

The Mortgage Bankers Association releases its Mortgage Market Index for the week ended October 14 at 1100 GMT. It read 744.3 in the previous week and the refinancing index was 4,072.3.

A growing number of News Corp (NWSA.O) shareholders with voting rights are considering sending a strong message of discontent to Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch by voting against several long-standing board members including his sons James and Lachlan.

The Commerce Department releases housing starts and permits for September at 1230 GMT. Economists forecast a 590,000 annualized rate for housing starts in September versus 571,000 in August, and a total of 610,000 permits in September compared with 625,000 in the prior month.

At 1230 GMT, the Labor Department issues Real Earnings for September. Economists expect a 0.2 percent rise versus a 0.8 percent fall in August. The Federal Reserve releases its latest Beige Book at 1600 GMT.

Apple Inc (AAPL.O) stunned Wall Street by reporting results that missed expectations for the first time in years, blaming rumors about the new iPhone for hurting demand in the September quarter.

Shares of Apple fell 7 percent in extended trading on Tuesday, wiping some $ 27 billion off the value of the world’s largest technology company. Apple shares listed in Frankfurt (AAPL.F) were down 5.6 percent.

Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) unveiled the first smartphone running on Google’s (GOOG.O) latest version of the Android operating system, which combines software used in tablets and smartphones, as they step up competition against Apple.

Nomura Holdings (8604.T) is set to buy a China unit of GE Capital — General Electric Co’s (GE.N) finance arm — in a key step toward building a solid footing in the fast-growing financial markets of the mainland, a source with knowledge of the matter said.

U.S. stocks surged late in trading on Tuesday as buyers latched onto another report of agreements to strengthen the euro zone’s rescue fund.

The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) ended up 180.05 points, or 1.58 percent, at 11,577.05. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (.SPX) was up 24.52 points, or 2.04 percent, at 1,225.38. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) was up 42.51 points, or 1.63 percent, at 2,657.43.

Two senior European Union officials dismissed a report in Britain’s Guardian that a deal had been reached by France and Germany to scale up the euro zone’s rescue fund by around 5 times to more than 2 trillion euros.

Greek unions began a 48-hour general strike, the biggest protest in years, as parliament prepared to vote on sweeping new austerity measures designed to stave off a default that could trigger a crisis in the wider euro zone.

The FTSEurofirst 300 (.FTEU3) index of top European shares rose 0.3 percent in morning trade on Wednesday, while Japan’s Nikkei average (.N225) gained 0.4 percent.

Yahoo Inc (YHOO.O) lived up to lackluster third-quarter expectations, but the struggling Internet portal was tight-lipped about efforts to find a new Chief Executive or explore a sale. Its shares were up 3.4 percent.

(Reporting by Atul Prakash; Editing by Hans-Juergen Peters)

Children make the family picture complete; they bring in fun and give a feeling of completeness to the married couple. The woman’s life soon revolves around teaching her children the right values and looking after them and their studies, and everything. Even the husband gets involved doing the same, worrying about the future of his kids to make it secure. Both of them get so much involved doing this that they forget about their life together, as a husband and wife. Soon they realize that they are not giving their hundred percent to each other; they miss the enjoyment and the thrill of romance they had shared in the past. The husband feels left out as he finds his wife worrying only about the kids. Because in most of the cases it is the woman who pays detailed attention to the life and progress of her kids. Planning will help you to keep your marriage life after kids all spiced up… The coming paragraphs illustrate what can you do for a healthy marriage and to keep your marital romance alive after having kids.

How to Keep Your Marriage Alive After Having Children

Remembrance is the Best Compliment
Even little things can make a difference in life, so do your small actions in a relationship. You as a wife should take all the effort to keep in mind the things your husband expects from you or that would make him feel you still remember. This can be as simple as kissing him goodbye when he goes for work or gifting him something special as you used to in your courtship days. Surprise him by giving his favorite food in the lunch box. Doing this even when you are busy will help to make your spouse realize that you still remember the minuscule but meaningful things. The same applies for men too; surprise your wife with a movie night plan, or a flower, or anything she likes.

A Few Rules Would Make Things Work
The day becomes busy with kids around, and you may not get time to spend with each other. Setting some rules would help ease things, rules like going out for a date once or twice in week, ‘communicating’ about your day daily, etc., The dating part is of huge significance in a marriage too. With children around it is difficult to spend time the way you earlier used to. Dating at some other place will give you the freedom and you can talk on issues you cannot talk before kids; you can enjoy. It will actually spice up the relation and help to keep the love and relation alive. Go to your favorite restaurant or the places you used to visit in the courtship days.

Prioritize and Talk it Out
Understand your partner’s priorities and decide your course of action based on it. Talk about your expectations from each other; this can be concerning about sex, career, sharing of household responsibilities etc. This will help you better understand your spouse and make things smooth without any fights due to lack of attention, misunderstandings, etc. Communication will make your relationship less complicated and will keep it free from hassles.

Things that Count
There are certain small things, which otherwise seem insignificant, count a lot in your relationship.

• Stay connected through cellphone throughout the day. Send him/her a few romantic messages in the day that would flatter and bring a smile on your spouse’s face.
• Considering the timing, plan some outing. This can be when your kids are out for a picnic. Either ways, you can spend time together by joining some class, or going to the gym together.
• Help your wife in the kitchen, and cook meals together. This way you will get to spend time with each other apart from having fun together.
• Writing a letter is also a good way to keep the romance alive. Convey your spouse how much you love him/her and how being with him/her has been your best blessing in life.

Mentioned above were some ways to keep your marital romance alive after having kids. Your kids are your blessing and also your responsibility. Raising them in the way desired is thus your first and foremost duty. But for an effective balance in your marriage life you need to take time out for yourself and your spouse. Enjoy with your kids, give them desired attention but also remember to spend time with each other to keep the magic and romance alive…!