US STOCKS-Futures lower on 3M outlook, weaker oil prices

                                

                                
 * FedEx says Q2 earnings to top forecast
                                
 * 3M's 2010 outlook below Wall Street forecast
                                
 * Futures off: S&P 8.30 pts, Dow 70 pts, Nasdaq 15.50 pts
                                
 * For up-to-the-minute market news, click [STXNEWS/US]
                                
(Adds details, quote, byline, updates prices)
                                
 By Leah Schnurr
                                
 NEW YORK, Dec 8 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures
pointed to a lower open on Tuesday as declining oil prices
pressured energy shares and 3M Co's outlook for the current
year came in below analysts' forecast.
                                
 3M <MMM.N> fell 1.5 percent to $76.71 before the opening
bell after the diversified manufacturer forecast 2009 earnings
per share, excluding items, between $4.50 and $4.55 per share.
The consensus of analysts polled by Thomson Reuters is for
earnings of $4.57 a share. For details, see [ID:nN08192515]
                                
 Shares of McDonald's Corp <MCD.N> slid 2.3 percent to
$60.50 in premarket trading after it reported November
comparable sales. [ID:nWNBB9067]
                                
 Oil prices fell below $73 a barrel, extending the previous
day's 2 percent decline, hurt by the slow recovery in energy
demand and ample supplies. The U.S. dollar, which has traded
inversely to equities of late, firmed against a basket of
currencies.
                                
 "The combination of some negative corporate news, the
strengthening of the dollar and the exiting of commodities is
weighing on the futures pre-open," said Peter Cardillo, chief
market economist at Avalon Partners in New York.
                                
 FedEx Corp <FDX.N> could help limit losses after it said
late on Monday its second-quarter earnings would easily beat
its previous forecast, citing strong growth in international
demand for its air services, especially in Asia and Latin
America. Its shares gained 2.2 percent to $89.45.
[ID:nN07178501]
                                
 S&P 500 futures <SPc1> fell 8.30 points and were below fair
value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account
interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the
contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures <DJc1> slipped
70 points, while Nasdaq 100 futures <NDc1> dipped 15.50
points.
                                
 The S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended slightly lower on Monday and
the Dow was flat, reversing earlier gains following comments
from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke that sparked jitters
about the pace of the economic recovery.
                                
 Investors were also watching developments in Dubai as its
leaders dithered over a rescue for debt-laden company Dubai
World. [ID:nGEE5B70V3]
                                
 General Motors Co is talking to BAIC, China's fifth-largest
car maker, about a partial sale of assets associated with its
Saab brand, including tooling and technology, two people with
direct knowledge of the discussions said. [ID:nN07182598]
  (Editing by Padraic Cassidy)