* Futures for the Dow Jones industrial average DJc1, the Nasdaq 100 NDc1 and the S&P 500 SPc1 share indexes are down 1.4-2.8 percent, pointing to a lower start on Wall Street.

* Walt Disney (DIS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) reports results and could comment on whether theme park bookings for the popular holiday period are down and whether it is scaling back costs in the face of skittish media advertisers. Revenue is expected to rise about 5 percent and net profit about 11 percent.

* Initial jobless claims for last week, due at 1330 GMT, are expected to come in just a thousand above the previous week at 480,000, setting the stage for a grim October non-farm payroll report on Friday.

* Exchange operator Nasdaq OMX (NDAQ.O: Quote, Profile, Research) is expected to have earned 52 cents in its third quarter, in which the market began to spin downward, boosting the company's trading revenue.

However, investors will look for any sign that the current turmoil -- including broker consolidation and hedge fund contraction -- will impact its aggressive integration schedule for its recent acquisitions.

* Shares of Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO.O: Quote, Profile, Research) fell more than 6 percent after the bell on Wednesday as the technology bellwether said economic challenges buffeting the United States have now spread to key markets abroad.

* Shares of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp NWSa.N fell 5.8 percent to $9.22 after the bell on Wednesday after the media conglomerate posted a 30 percent drop in first-quarter net income.

* The chief executives of Detroit's Big Three automakers and the president of the United Automobile Workers union are scheduled to meet on Thursday with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi about emergency financial aid for the companies, according to three people with knowledge of the plans, the New York Times reported. (Reporting by Atul Prakash; Editing by Richard Hubbard)