Wall Street opening slide looks likely

NEW YORK -- Stocks are set to slide as investors remain cautious about the strength of a potential economic recovery.

Overseas markets are falling, following weakness in the U.S. yesterday after a disappointing report on consumer confidence.

Investors will turn their attention to reports on durable goods and new home sales hoping for encouragement that has been absent from the market so far this week.

New reports are expected to show orders to factories for big-ticket items and new home sales grew in September.

Dow Jones industrial average futures are down 55, or 0.6 percent, at 9,780. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures are down 6.40, or 0.6 percent, at 1,054.00, while Nasdaq 100 index futures are down 5.50, or 0.3 percent, at 1,714.25.

-- The Associated Press