U.S. stock-index futures extended losses after initial jobless claims unexpectedly increased, fueling concern the economic recovery is in jeopardy. Futures on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index expiring in December lost 1 percent 1,119 at 8:31 a.m. in New York. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures decreased 79 points, or 0.7 percent, to 10,594. Initial jobless claims increased by 12,000 to 465,000 in the week ended Sept. 18, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. The total number of people receiving unemployment insurance declined, while those getting extended payments rose. The S&P 500 slid 0.5 percent yesterday, the most since Sept. 7, a day after the Federal Reserve said it’s willing to ease monetary policy further to spur growth. The gauge has gained 1.7 percent so far this year, leaving it 6.8 percent below its peak for 2010. European stocks dropped for a third day, led by bank and construction shares, as concern intensified that countries on the periphery of the euro area will fail to repay their debt. Irish and Portuguese 10-year government bond yields widened to records relative to similar-maturity benchmark German bunds. To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Regan at mregan12@bloomberg.net

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