Wall Street stock index futures fell Tuesday after data in the United Kingdom showed the manufacturing sector unexpectedly sliding back into contraction.

European stocks were lower after the report. The UK’s FTSE 100 index fell 1.2%, Frankfurt’s DAX lost 1.36% while the Paris CAC 40 index gave back 0.86%.

On the U.S. economic calendar, the U.S. Institute for Supply Manufacturing’s August manufacturing report, due at 10:00 ET, is expected to show a rise to 50.5 from 48.9,. That would mark the first rise above the 50 level since January 2008. Auto-sales data will also be released.

Here at home, the Canadian dollar was down 0.12 of a cent to US91.2¢.

In commodities news, the October crude contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange was up 14¢ to US$70.10 a barrel after dropping US$2.78 on Monday.

December gold declined US$2.10 to US$951.40 an ounce.

In other market news, drug maker Biovail Corp. In corporate news, Biovail Corp. said it was “disappointed” with the results from a clinical trial of a potential drug for patients with Parkinson’s disease psychosis.

Overnight in Asia,t he Shanghai Composite Index was up 0.6% following a 6.7% plunge Monday.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng climbed 0.7% while Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 stock average rose 0.4%.

On Monday, the Toronto Stock Exchange followed international stock markets lower on Monday, with declining commodity prices weighing down resource stocks.

The S&P/TSX composite index fell 109.76 points, or 1%, to close at 10,868.21. The benchmark index finished the month of August with a gain of 81 points, or less than 1%.

Monday’s decline came after exchanges abroad posted steeper losses, including a 6.7% plunge for Shanghai’s Composite Index, and a 1.9% drop in Hong Kong’s Hang Seng.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index also retreated on Monday, finishing down 13.47 points, or 1.1%, at 1,175.24.

In New York, stocks slipped Monday, but the main U.S. stock market indices finished the month of August with substantial gains.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 47.92 points, or 0.5%, to end at 9,496.28. The blue-chip index finished the month of August with a 3.5% gain.

The S&P 500 index declined 8.31 points, or 0.8%, to stand at 1,020.62, up 3.4% for the month.

The Nasdaq composite index dropped 19.71 points, or 1%, to rest at 2,009.06. It gained 1.5% during the month.

IE