U.S. stock futures are indicating a lower start for today's session as credit worries and impace on the overall market continue and as housing data is set to be reported today. No doubt many fear the housing market will continue to show signs of weakness.

Yesterday U.S. stocks finished somewhat lower (the Dow industrial pretty much flat) following several executives warning of a recession. Today Wall Street will finally get its hands on some data, and going forward, more data is due to help shape market opinion about the state of the economy.

At 8:30 a.m., before the opening bell, July durable goods orders is due out. Economists forecast a 1.0% rise, after a 1.4% increase in June.
At 10:00 a.m. this morning, the Census Bureau will report July new home sales. Economists forecast the pace of sales fell to an annual rate of 825,000 from 834,000 in June.

Overseas, Asian stocks finished mostly lower with Hong Kong's Hang Seng snapping a four-day winning streak. European shares dropped as well.

In corporate news:

Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) sale of its wholesale distribution unit is not proceeding as the company had wished and it may now receive $1.2 billion less than the $10.3 billion originally anticipated for the unit. The reason may be even more worrisome to investors as the banks may not be offering the same financing terms they did originally and the poor housing market has also changed the original valuation.