Stock futures point to lower Wall Street open

[July 10, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The stock market is heading toward a lower start as investor anxiety about the economy increases.

Markets around the world are down Friday as investors are deciding to sell amid the uncertainty about upcoming earnings reports and what they'll say about the economy. They're also anxious ahead of the first reading on consumers' sentiment during July, coming out Friday morning.

News that Chevron Corp.'s refining margins fell in the second quarter also concerned the market. Oil companies have been among the country's top performers. Meanwhile, oil prices resumed their fall below $60 a barrel. Investors see crude's drop as another sign of a weak global economy.

Dow Jones industrial average futures are down 50, or 0.6 percent, at 8,084. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures are down 5, or 0.6 percent, at 873.90, while Nasdaq 100 index futures are down 8.75, or 0.6 percent, at 1,404.75.

[Associated Press; By IEVA M. AUGSTUMS]

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