August 21, 2015- Stocks Extend Losses as China Contracts

Trading in the U.S. index futures suggests that Wall Street stocks may open Friday's session on a flat note, a marked turnaround from the losses witnessed in the previous three sessions. Global cues are uninspiring, with the Asian markets closing notably lower, while European stocks are also lower, although off their early lows, after the region's private sector activity data came in better that expected. Meanwhile, Greece's decision to call for snap polls may serve to keep sentiment subdued. The dollar is currently mixed but commodities are seeing weakness. The domestic markets may also focus on a private data on manufacturing activity and earnings from Hewlett-Packard (HPQ). The Dow futures are slipping 43 points, the Nasdaq 100 futures are down 13.50 points and the S&P 500 futures are declining 2.50 points.