Hard to say , the items you mention, IBM(analysts did not like service sales data) or the Powell statement, which i post now: are the only factors i have noted.
Futures measured from 4pm close significantly worse, so the drop in futures started BEFORE 4:15pm.
<<U.S. to Pull Some Diplomats from Saudi, Cites Threat
33 minutes ago Add Top Stories - Reuters to My Yahoo!
By Arshad Mohammed
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will order some nonessential diplomats on Thursday to leave Saudi Arabia because the "threat level" has risen in the U.S. oil supplier, Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) said.
The decision will also force the families of all diplomats at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and U.S. consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran to leave the close U.S. ally. Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Osama bin Laden (news - web sites), is battling a wave of violence believed linked to his al Qaeda network.>>
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