Stock Futures Weaken as Europe, China See Cooling Economies

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- U.S. stock futures were pointing to a weaker start Thursday amid signs of slowing economic conditions in China and Europe.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average were declining 55 points, or 43.6 points below fair value, at 13,011. Futures for the S&P 500 were slipping 7 points, or 6.8 points below fair value, at 1391, indicating that the index could fall for a third straight day. Futures for the Nasdaq were off 12.3 points, or 9.7 points below fair value, at 2723.

U.S. stocks finished mixed Wednesday after a disappointing read on the housing market and bearish comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Europe.

Fears of a slowing Chinese economy were exacerbated Thursday as the HSBC flash purchasing managers index indicated that Chinese manufacturing activity declined sharply in March. The index retreated to 48.1 for March from February's final reading of 49.6. New orders declined to a four-month low, while an expected rebound in export orders failed to materialize.

Glum economic conditions were also seen in Europe, with more signs that the eurozone was sliding into a recession. Business activity shrank more than expected in March, according to a composite purchasing managers' index for the single-currency bloc. The index fell to 48.7 in March from 49.3 in February, according to Markit Economics, coming in below the 50 threshold that points to growth. Output as a whole declined in the first quarter

Overseas, London's FTSE was falling 0.98%, and Germany's DAX was declining by 1.51%. In Asia, Japan's Nikkei Average finishing higher by 0.40% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index closed ahead by 0.22%.