NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures slid on Thursday after Wal-Mart Stores posted disappointing December sales and forecast a fourth-quarter profit shortfall, compounding investors' worries about the deepening recession.
* The news from Wal-Mart, a Dow component, flew in the face of expectations that the economic slump will favor discount chains as consumers pare back spending amid mounting job losses.
* S&P 500 futures dropped 8.90 points, while Nasdaq futures dipped 7 points, and Dow futures declined 95 points.
(Reporting by Ellis Mnyandu; Editing by James Dalgleish)
