By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock futures pointed to another day in the red ahead of Wednesday's ADP jobs report, which could be watched more closely than usual given the possibility of a June Federal Reserve interest- rate hike.

The Nasdaq (RIXF) looked set to slip further below the psychologically important 5,000 level reached on Monday, with futures (NDH5) off 14 points, or 0.3%, to 4,442.50. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJH5) lost 61 points, or 0.3%, to 18,125, while those for the S&P 500 index (SPH5) gave up 7.90 points, or 0.4%, to 2,096.90.

The losses came after a day in the red on Tuesday (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stocks-futures-retreat-after-nasdaq-breaks-above-5000-2015-03-03), when disappointing monthly car sales dampened investors' spirit.

Data: The big number today will be the ADP employment report. The ADP figures showed 213,000 private-sector jobs were added to the economy in January, and economists forecast 220,000 jobs to have been created in February. The report comes out at 8:15 a.m. Eastern Time.

The ADP reading will give an indication of the strength of the labor market ahead of Friday's jobs report, a monthly highlight that will also be eyed for clues to whether the Fed is likely to pull the trigger on a rate increase in June.

"This Friday's release has gained extra significance as it is the first such figure since Fed Chair Yellen highlighted the key role job growth will play in any interest rate hike decision," Connor Campbell, financial analyst at Spreadex, said in a note Wednesday.

The dollar strengthened ahead of the ADP report, with the ICE dollar index (DXY) jumping to its highest level in more than 11 years (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dollar-climbs-to-11-year-high-ahead-of-jobs-data-ecb-2015-03-04).

At 10 a.m. Eastern, the ISM nonmanufacturing data for February will be released. Economists polled by MarketWatch expect a slight pullback to 55.9%, from 56.7% in January.

Fed speakers: Chicago Federal Reserve President Charles Evans, who is a voting member this year, will speak on the economic outlook and monetary policy to the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Rotary Club in Lake Forest, Ill. at 9 a.m. Eastern.

Kansas City Fed President Esther George, who is not a voting member of the Fed this year, will give a speech on the economy in Kansas City at 1 p.m. Eastern.

Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher, also not a voting member, will reflect on 10 years at the Fed in El Paso, Texas at 7 p.m. Eastern.

The Fed's beige book is schedule at 2 p.m.

Earnings: Reporting ahead of the bell, clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co.(ANF) is projected to report fourth-quarter earnings of $1.14 a share, according to a consensus survey by FactSet.

Pet-supplies company PetSmart Inc. (PETM) is forecast to post fourth-quarter earnings of $1.36 a share.

Spirits maker Brown-Forman Corp.(BFB) is predicted to report fiscal third-quarter earnings of 86 cents a share.

Trina Solar Ltd.(TSL) gained 4.2% ahead of the market open after the solar-panel manufacturer reported earnings ahead of forecasts.

Movers and shakers: Warren Buffett was in the spotlight again after news that Berkshire Hathaway Inc.(BRK/A) plans a debut euro-bond sale (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/warren-buffetts-berkshire-hathaway-plans-debut-euro-bond-sale-2015-03-04), joining the craze for European bonds amid record low borrowing cost. Last week, Coca-Cola Co. (KO) sold EUR8.5 billion ($9.45 billion) worth of European bonds (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/coca-cola-sells-biggest-ever-us-offer-of-euro-bonds-2015-02-26), the largest euro-denominated bond from an American firm on record and the second-largest by any company in the currency.

Shares of Smith & Wesson Holding Corp.(SWB) surged 11% ahead of the bell after earnings from the firearms manufacturer topped Wall Street estimates (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/smith-wesson-shares-rally-on-earnings-beat-outlook-2015-03-03).

Bob Evans Farms Inc.(BOBE) dived 20% after the restaurant chain late Tuesday reported earnings below expectations (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bob-evans-reports-earnings-miss-2015-03-03) and said it would not pursue a sale or spinoff of BEF Foods. Janney Wednesday morning downgraded the company to neutral from buy.

Shares of Veeva Systems Inc.(VEEV) slumped 8.5% in premarket trade after the cloud-software company late Tuesday reported fourth-quarter earnings.

U.S. listed shares of Novogen Ltd.(NVGN) rocketed 61% premarket after the Australian biotech said studies show one of its drugs can kill brain-cancer cells.

Shares of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.(BABA) nudged 0.8% lower ahead of the bell, after taking outs its all-time low in Tuesday's session before rebounding slightly at the close.

TiVo Inc.(TIVO) could also be active after reporting a surge in surge in fourth-quarter profit late Tuesday.

Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) was further in the spotlight after projecting higher fuel costs for the first quarter.

Other markets: European stock markets struggled for direction after a mixed bag of data, while most Asian markets closed in the red (http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid). Oil futures climbed (http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid) and metals were lower across the board (http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid).

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