* Initial jobless claims among economic data on tap
* FedEx, Oracle, Research In Motion set to report results
* Futures off: Dow 22 pts, S&P 3.6 pts, Nasdaq 2 pts
NEW YORK, Sept 16 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures dipped on Thursday ahead of a round of economic data that will include a look at the labor market and results from bellwethers FedEx and Oracle.
* Initial jobless claims will be the morning's focus, with the number of people filing for first-time jobless benefits expected to rise to 460,000, compared with 451,000 in the prior week, according to a Reuters poll of economists. The data is due at 8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT)
* Also on tap at that time is the August producer price index, which is forecast to rise 0.3 percent compared with a 0.2 percent rise in July. The Philadelphia Fed survey, coming at 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT) is expected to rise to 2 in September versus minus 7.7 the month before.
* Shipping group FedEx Corp, world's No. 3 software maker Oracle Corp as well as BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd will report quarterly results later in the day. The figures will be closely watched as all three are considered bellwethers of the economy and their respective sectors.
* The data and corporate results could be welcome catalysts to a market that has been stuck at the top of a trading range in recent days.
* The S&P 500 has found support at its 200-day moving average around the 1,115 level, but the benchmark index has been unable to pierce the 1,130 threshold, seen as a key resistance level by analysts.
* S&P 500 futures dipped 3.6 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 were off 22 points, and Nasdaq 100 futures slipped 2 points. Wall Street advanced on Wednesday.
* Focus was also on the foreign exchange market, where the yen edged up against the dollar and other currencies as Japanese authorities stayed away from the market after their massive yen-selling operation the previous day.
* U.S.-listed shares of BHP Billiton dipped after a newspaper report that Potash Corp of Saskatchewan Inc is trying to stitch together a consortium, led by China, to back a management buyout to trump BHP's hostile bid. BHP was off nearly 1 percent to $72.85 in premarket trading.
* Home decor chain Pier 1 Imports Inc reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit early Thursday, boosted by fewer promotions, tighter cost controls and strong sales.