U.S. stock index futures dipped on Thursday after a contraction in Chinese manufacturing and a downturn in Europe's service sector.

According to a private sector survey of factory managers, Manufacturing in China contracted for an 11th straight month in September; in the euro zone, a downturn in activity in the service sector fell this month at the fastest pace since July 2009.

The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits held near two-month highs last week, suggesting some weakening in labor market conditions.

S&P 500 futures fell 4.4 points; Dow Jones industrial average futures fell 33 points; Nasdaq 100 futures lost 6.25 points.