US Stock Futures Signal Weak Opening

US stock futures fell today as worries regarding the health of a Spanish bank, inter-bank lending woes and tensions in Korea hit the financial world hard. Following the news of Spain seizing a regional lender and unveiling of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) data on Spain's finances, US stocks dropped sharply and closed around the day's lows. While futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average slumped 218 points to 9825.00, those on the S&P 500 lost 27.5 points to 1043.50. Meanwhile, Nasdaq 100 futures fell 40 points to 1772.50. The blue chip index seems clearly in a risk of closing below the 10,000 mark for the first time since February 8. Meanwhile, Korean stocks and the won currency plummeted today after a group disclosed that Kim Jong-il has ordered the North Korean military to be ready for combat. While the Nikkei 225 lost 3.1% in Tokyo, the Kospi shed 2.75% in Seoul. Companies that are trading actively in the pre market session and might continue to be in focus today are Dynegy Inc DYN, which shed 12%, and Allied Irish Banks PLC AIB, which lost 14%. AAR Corp AIR shares, which lost over 9% in extended trading yesterday on weak outlook supplied by the aviation and defense supplier for the fourth quarter, may also be back in focus. Meanwhile, European shares have slipped 2.8% in morning trade.