Stock-index futures pointed to a sharply weaker start for Wall Street on Monday, with an unexpectedly upbeat reading on manufacturing activity failing to assuage economic worries.

Stock futures lightly pared losses after the New York State manufacturing index climbed to its highest level since Nov  2007, with the reading proving much better than expected.

Down more than 170 points ahead of the economic report, futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average were lately off 160 points at 9,161. Those for the S&P 500 Index fell 18.4 points to 987.4, while Nasdaq 100 futures declined 25.75 points to 1,589.25.

Tags:  down economic report Stock US