Stock index futures have slipped in trading today and are pointing to a weak start for the U.S. equity market as investors remain worried over the euro zone debt crisis. The concerns escalated at the end of last week on speculation that Greece will default on its debt. A meeting Group of Seven has also failed to inspire any confidence in the markets. European leaders remain divided over how to solve the sovereign debt crisis in the euro zone. There is speculation that Germany, the biggest and the strongest euro zone economy, is getting ready for a default by Greece. As the euro zone debt crisis continues to dampen investors’ sentiment, equity market in the U.S. is expected to have another down day. Ahead of the opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are trading 203 points lower at 10,190, the S&P 500 futures are trading 17 points lower at 1,148, and the Nasdaq 100 futures are trading 34 points lower at 2,159. All three major indexes had ended sharply lower on Friday. Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC) shares are expected to remain in focus in trading today. The stock is down more than 3% in pre-market trading today. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) shares will also remain in focus in trading today after the drugmaker failed to win U.S. clearance for wider use of an arthritis drug. Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) shares, meanwhile, are down more than 2% in pre-market trading. In the commodities market, crude oil is falling in early trading today on global growth concerns. At last check, crude oil for delivery in October was down $1.40 to $85.84 a barrel in electronic trading on the Globex. Gold prices are also lower in trading today. At last check, gold for delivery in December was own $21 to $1,839 an ounce.

Source