(By Balachander) U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open on the Wall Street as investors awaited the latest minutes of Federal Reserve meeting for any signals of additional stimulus. The upcoming meetings between Greek and European officials this week also weighed on the sentiment.
Mini Dow Industrial Average futures lost 39 points to 13,160. The Nasdaq Futures shed 7.75 points to 2,766.25. Standard and Poor's 500 futures declined 5.10 points to 1,407.40.
On the U.S. economic front, the National Association of Realtors will release its report on existing home sales for July at 10 a.m. ET. Economists expect existing home sales to increase to 4.52 million for the month from 4.37 million in June.
At 2 p.m. ET, the Federal Reserve will release the minutes of its July 31-August 1 policy-setting committee meeting.
Meanwhile, Japan reported a wider-than-expected trade deficit for July, data released by the Finance Ministry showed, adding to evidence of a slowing global economy.
Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is due to meet euro zone chief Jean Claude Juncker to seek more time for implementing austerity measures needed for the debt-laden country to receive bailout funds.
On Tuesday, U.S. stocks ended on a negative note, paring early gains on hopes that the major policy makers will act to stimulate global growth.
Hot Stocks Of The Day: DELL, SRZ, ADI, WSM, TOL, EXPR, CHS, UCTT, HPQ
In corporate news, Dell Inc. (NASDAQ:DELL) retreated 5.35 percent in premarket after the PC maker reported quarterly revenue that trailed market expectations. For the third quarter, Dell forecasts revenue decline of 2 percent to 5 percent from second-quarter levels. For the full year, Dell modified its non-GAAP earnings per share guidance to at least $1.70, while analysts' expect $1.91 a share.
Sunrise Senior Living Inc. (NYSE:SRZ) jumped 58.12 percent in premarket after the provider of senior living services agreed to be acquired by Health Care REIT Inc. (NYSE:HCN) for $14.50 per share in cash, a 62.4 percent premium to its previous closing price.
Analog Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:ADI) shed 1.04 percent in premarket following its lower quarterly earnings amid a sharp decline in margins. The microchip maker also issued a soft forecast for the fourth quarter.
Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE:TOL) jumped 6.26 percent in premarket after the company posted a jump in quarterly earnings, helped by strong revenue growth and expansion of margins. Revenue surged 41 percent and homebuilding deliveries rose 39 percent in units for the third quarter.
Williams-Sonoma Inc. (NYSE:WSM) added 9.36 percent after the retailer of home products raised its 2012 earnings forecast following better-than-expected quarterly results.
Express Inc. (NYSE:EXPR) slumped 7.69 percent in premarket after the apparel retailer reduced its full-year earnings forecast after second-quarter sales fell short of market expectations amid drop in margins. The company also guided third quarter below consensus.
Chico's FAS Inc. (NYSE:CHS) gained 3.92 percent after the women's specialty retailer reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings, helped by jump in sales and expansion of margins.
Ultra Clean Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:UCTT) may be in focus after the developer of tests subsystems for the semiconductor capital equipment industry reduced its revenue guidance for the third quarter.
Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE:HPQ) is scheduled to report its quarterly results after the market closes. Wall Street analysts expect the PC maker to earn $0.98 a share on revenue of $30.1 billion for the third quarter.
Global Markets:
European markets traded in red, with Germany's DAX declining 0.86 percent to trade at 7,028.35. France's CAC40 fell 0.71 percent to 3,488.29. U.K.'s FTSE 100 tumbled 1.10 percent to trade at 5,792.90.
Among Asian markets, China's Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index lost 0.50 percent to finish at 2,107.71. Japan's Nikkei 225 shed 0.27 percent to end at 9,131.74. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slumped 1.06 percent to end at 19,887.78. India's BSE Sensex closed at 17,846.86, down 0.21 percent.
Market Scan:
Ahead of the opening bell, crude oil futures slipped 0.24 percent to $96.61 per barrel. Gold futures edged 0.02 percent lower to $1,642.5 per ounce.
In the currency market, the euro dropped 0.13 percent against the U.S. dollar to 1.2457 while the British pound added 0.03 percent to 1.5790. The dollar shed 0.05 percent against the Japanese yen to 79.2500.