U.S. Stock Futures in the Red on Growth Slowdown Fears

Investing.com – U.S. stock futures pointed to a sharply lower open on Wednesday after weak manufacturing data stoked fears that the trade war with China is hobbling the world’s largest economy, too.

The contract was down 160 points, or 0.6% by 06:50 AM ET (10:50 GMT), the was down 17 points, or 0.6%, while the contract dropped 0.7%.

The and suffered their worst falls in over a month on Tuesday after data showed U.S. factory activity shrank in September to its weakest in over a decade, indicating that the U.S. is not immune to the manufacturing slowdown affecting China and Europe.

The closely watched government nonfarm payrolls report on Friday is expected to shed further light on U.S. economic strength.

“This is a bad number, fitting in with the world’s manufacturing recession,” Jim Bianco, head of Bianco Research in Chicago, said of the ISM report. “I think the market is right to be concerned, but we will have to see whether other manufacturing numbers in the U.S. bear that out, not the least of which being the manufacturing payroll numbers on Friday.”

Investors are looking ahead to the ADP nonfarm payrolls report at 8:15 AM ET (1215 GMT) for an indication on how the slowdown is hitting private sector .

Meanwhile, comments from Philly Fed President and his New York counterpart may indicate whether the data has moved the Fed’s dial towards further easing.

In earnings news, Bed Bath & Beyond (NASDAQ:) is set to report earnings after markets close, while home builder Lennar (NYSE:) beat expectations with its quarterly update.

Outside of equities, the , which measures the greenback against six rival currencies, climbed 0.2% to 98.99, while the yield on the Treasury was last trading at 1.6%.

In commodities, were up $1.55, or 0.3%, at $1,490.55 a troy ounce, while traded up 0.1% to $53.72 a barrel.

–Reuters contributed to this report

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