U.S. stock futures slip. A weaker start looms as retailers report gloomy holiday-season sales. Fed chief Bernanke to speak this afternoon.

 

LONDON (MarketWatch) — U.S. stock futures slipped on Thursday, as traders were reluctant to continue the late acceleration seen in the last session ahead of a speech from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, with December sales reports from retailers and a warning from Capital One Financial painting a largely bearish picture.

S&P 500 futures slipped 4.2 points to 1,407.40 and Nasdaq 100 futures weakened 7 points to 1,949.50. Dow industrial futures fell 25 points.

U.S. stocks climbed Wednesday in what some saw a “relief rally,” with the Dow industrials ending 146 points higher, the S&P 500 up nearly 19 points and the Nasdaq Composite rising 34 points.

Thursday will feature a speech from Bernanke at 1 p.m.

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