Stock futures slip ahead of options expiration

[June 18, 2010]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Stock futures are pointing lower ahead of the expiration of options contracts.

With little economic and corporate news expected Friday, trading could be choppy because of the occurrence of a quarterly "quadruple witching," which marks the simultaneous expiration of four kinds of options and futures contracts.

Traders also looked to Europe, where leaders said they would publish results of bank stress tests designed to evaluate the stability of banks. Investors have been concerned that debt defaults by weak countries like Greece could result in big losses.

Dow Jones industrial average futures are down 21 at 10,355. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures are off 2.40 at 1,109.30. Nasdaq 100 index futures are down 1.75 at 1,907.75.

[Associated Press; By TIM PARADIS]

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