U.S. Stock Futures Fall Ahead Of October Jobs Report

Stock futures are slightly lower ahead of the government's October jobs report.

Economists expect that employers added a net 100,000 jobs in October. More than twice that number is needed to lower the unemployment rate, which has been stuck at 9.1 percent for the past three months. Employers are reluctant to step up hiring because of uncertainty about the pace of growth and weak consumer demand.

Traders also are waiting for a confidence vote by the Greek parliament. The political drama threatens to hobble efforts by European leaders to contain the debt crisis.

Ninety minutes ahead of the market opening, Dow Jones industrial futures are down 52 points, or 0.4 percent, at 11,924. S&P 500 futures are down 8, or 0.6 percent, at 1,249. Nasdaq 100 futures are down 15, or 0.6 percent, at 2,346.