Stock futures fall on renewed European banking concerns

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stock index futures fell on Monday after reports on the European banking system rekindled concerns about the financial health of the region.

The Wall Street Journal reported the European bank stress tests to measure the strength of major banks understated some lenders' holdings in potentially risky government debt.

Separately, Germany's banking association said the country's 10 biggest banks may need 105 billion euros ($141 billion) in additional capital as it revamps regulations designed to prevent future crises.

"The apparently never-ending European debt crisis is coming back to visit the markets and with it, will bring a bout of doubt," said Andre Bakhos, director of market analytics at Lek Securities in New York.

"We were up three solid sessions to start the month of September. We are looking now at a situation that may take some recent enthusiasm away."

Wall Street posted its best week in the last two months, bolstered by stronger-than-expected economic data that had reduced fears of a double-dip recession.

S&P 500 futures lost 8.2 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 shed 41 points, and Nasdaq 100 futures fell 10.25 points.

Oracle Corp , the world's third-largest software maker, said Monday it hired Mark Hurd, the former chief executive of Hewlett-Packard Co , as president. Hurd resigned in August after a probe into sexual harassment allegations. Oracle shares climbed 6 percent to $24.26 in premarket trade.

The U.S. Justice department is looking into Google Inc's takeover of airline ticketing software firm ITA Software Inc on concerns the deal would exert too much influence on the online travel industry, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Air Products and Chemicals Inc raised its bid for Airgas Inc to $5.5 billion, the latest salvo in a hostile bid for its rival.

European shares fell Tuesday to move below a key index retracement level, with banks lower after a Journal report on European bank stress tests.

Asian stocks dropped on caution over the global economy, while the euro fell.

(Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)