Futures Point to Down Open on Wall St.

LONDON – U.S. stock market futures pointed to another downbeat session on Tuesday, with a wave of economic data, automaker sales figures, a speech from the new Treasury Secretary and Verizon Communications results to come.

Dow Jones futures were recently down 17 points, S&P 500 futures edged 1.1 points lower, and Nasdaq futures declined 4 points.

On Monday, U.S. stock markets were listless in light volume, with the Dow industrials ending 34 points lower, the Nasdaq Composite shedding 2 points and the S&P 500 off nearly 2 points.

Natural-gas futures ended at more than a three-month high on Monday, with the benchmark September contract jumping 14 percent.

The September contract edged 5.1 cents lower to $8.16 per million British thermal units in Tuesday electronic trade. Crude-oil futures also were lower on Tuesday.

The dollar edged slightly higher on both the euro and the yen.

A number of data releases are due with June personal incomes, June consumer spending, June core inflation, June construction, June pending home sales and July Institute of Supply Management manufacturing poll all due for release.

Monthly auto sales data also is set for release, with a decline in sales from last year expected on rising gasoline prices. Automakers including Ford Motor Co. also are likely to report an increasing proportion of smaller cars being sold.

New Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson may also make waves. He is due to speak at 10:30 a.m. EDT on challenges facing the U.S. economy.

On the earnings front, Verizon Communications is the only Dow industrials component reporting results. Burger King and Coach also are due to report.

Fresh Del Monte Produce swung to a $17.8 million loss, and on an adjusted basis missed profit forecasts.

Whole Foods Market may see pressure after the natural-foods grocer didn’t meet sales estimates.

Management software giant CA Inc. late Monday restated financial results after concluding an internal probe of stock-option grants.

Deutsche Bank reported a 29 percent improvement in profit but posted a loss from proprietary equity trading.

Overseas, the Nikkei 225 slipped 0.1 percent in Tokyo on profit taking, while the German DAX 30 fell 0.1 percent.