Stock futures were significantly lower this morning, indicating a possible similar open for U.S. stocks as investors' doubt and skepticism over the effectiveness of the Federal Reserve (and other central banks) global plan aimed at fighting the credit crisis. Today, Wall Street will also eye retail sales and wholesale prices, as well as await earnings from Lehman Brothers.

Yesterday, U.S. stocks closed higher after the Federal Reserve and other central banks outlined a global plan to pump more liquidity into the banking system. However, as the day progressed, doubts about how well the plan will succeed grew. While most agree it will aid in addressing the liquidity issue, it is questionable whether it could and would avert the economic slump most economists are calling. A big surge in oil prices also tempered gains and the the Dow industrials finished 41 points higher, or 0.31, the Nasdaq Composite rose 18 points, or 0.71%, and the S&P 500 added nearly 9 points, or 0.61%.

Several economic indicators are scheduled for this morning, potentially swaying the direction stocks would take:

• At 8:30 a.m. EST, November retail sales will be released. Economists expect a 0.6% increase after a 0.2% rise the month before. The increase is attributable to discounts and wage gains that helped balance near-record fuel costs.
• Also at 8:30 a.m., producer price index will be reported. This indicator of inflation at the wholesale level is expected to have risen 1.5% in November after a 0.1% gain in October. Core-PPI, which excludes the volatile food and energy prices, is expected to rise 0.2% in November after no gain the month before.
• Weekly initial jobless claims are also due at 8:30.
• Finally, at 10:00 a.m., business inventories for October will be reported.

Overseas, the lack of confidence in the Fed's plan was felt overnight as Asian stocks fell sharply. Financial companies kept warning of write downs even as the Fed outlined its global plan. European shares were also lower for the same reason with HSBC being pressured.

Oil prices fell slightly to near $94 a barrel today after a near 5% jump the previous session on unexpected declines in U.S. crude stocks.

Lehman Brothers (NYSE: LEH) will kick off fourth-quarter earnings for Wall Street brokerages today. As MarketWatch reports, Wall Street analysts have been trimming their profit forecasts for brokers this week in an attempt to deal with the credit and market-related losses expected to drag on upcoming earnings reports.

Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) reported fiscal first-quarter net income rose 11%, meeting analysts' expectations. Earnings for the quarter reached $262 million, or 59 cents a share, sales reached $15.47 billion from $13.85 billion. Total revenue rose 12%, to $15.81 billion. Same-store sales rose 8% companywide. Analyst consensus estimates called for earnings of 59 cents per share on $15.81 billion of revenue. COST shares are down nearly 6% in premarket trading (7:10 a.m.).

Dow Chemical Co. (NYSE: DOW) will join with Petrochemical Industries Co. of Kuwait in a 50-50 petrochemicals venture. Dow will receive $9.5 billion pre-tax from PCI for the 50% stake. DOW shares are up nearly 8% in premarket trading (7:24 a.m.).

Euronet Worldwide (NASDAQ: EEFT) said it's offering $1.65 billion, or $20 a share, in stock for MoneyGram International (NYSE: MGI). MoneyGram closed Wednesday at $14.90.