Stock futures point to lower Wall Street open

[February 04, 2010]  MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) -- Stock index futures are pointing to a lower open on Wall Street as investors refrain from any major moves while they await a stream of economic data.

Traders will receive a handful of economic data from December on Wednesday, including the ADP National Employment Report on private companies and the Institute for Supply Management's index of service industry activity. The Federal Reserve will also release the minutes from its December meeting.

Many analysts said investors were holding back while they wait for Friday's Labor Department report on employment.

Asian stocks were up, while European markets edged lower.

Dow futures are down 17, or 0.2 percent, at 10,498. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures are down 2.60, or 0.2 percent, at 1,129.70, while Nasdaq 100 index futures are down 2.50, or 0.1 percent, at 1,882.75.

[Associated Press; By IEVA M. AUGSTUMS]

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