Stock futures pull back ahead unemployment data

[October 02, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Stocks are set for a lower open as investors await the government's September jobs report.

Stock futures are down Friday after the market began the fourth quarter with its worst drop in three months, sending the Dow Jones industrials down 203 points. Investors are having doubts about the economic recovery and whether they should extend this year's rally.

They'll get news about unemployment and the number of jobs lost last month when the Labor Department issues its report at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time. The market is also awaiting the Commerce Department's factory orders report for August.

Dow futures are down 34, or 0.4 percent, at 9,437. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures are down 3.10, or 0.3 percent, at 1,024.30, while Nasdaq 100 index futures are down 2.50, or 0.2 percent, at 1,668.00.

Global markets are modestly lower.

[Associated Press; By IEVA M. AUGSTUMS]

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