Futures mixed ahead of US retail report for August

NEW YORK (AP) U.S. stock futures are mixed in light trading before the government releases a report on retail sales, a crucial economic driver.

Dow Jones industrial futures are up a point to 15,247. S&P futures have lost 1.5 points to 1,676.80. Nasdaq futures are up 2 points to 3,171.50.

Economists expect that retail sales rose 0.4 percent in August, double the increase of the previous month. The Commerce Department releases that report at 1230 GMT.

European and Asian markets are being weighed down by a report in Japan's Nikkei newspaper saying that Larry Summers will be named to head the U.S. Federal Reserve after the central bank meets next week.

Summers is believed to have a less favorable view of the aggressive bond-buying program that has flooded markets with cash.