NEW YORK (Reuters) ? Stocks were slightly lower on Wednesday as concerns over a possible debt default by the United States continued to weigh on investor sentiment.
* A Republican plan to cut the deficit stiff opposition, piling anxiety onto investors and ordinary Americans hoping to avoid a default.
* Even if a default is avoided, a plan that flinches from hefty deficit cuts could result in a downgrade of the U.S. government's triple-A rating and raise borrowing costs, dealing a severe blow to the economic recovery.
* Credit Suisse strategists see a 50 percent chance of a credit ratings downgrade on U.S. debt, even if the ceiling is raised as key decisions on fiscal tightening are delayed until after the 2012 elections.
* Financial stocks were in focus after European banks such as Societe General (SOGN.PA) and Banco Santander (SAN.MC) fell after a downgrade by Goldman Sachs. The brokerage cut the banks to "neutral" from "overweight", saying doubts over a Greece rescue package have started to emerge.
* Gold prices hit another record high at more than $1,623 an ounce, while the cost of insuring U.S. debt against a default in the next year hit a new high, according to data monitor Markit.
S&P 500 futures fell 1.4 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 were down 4 points, and Nasdaq 100 futures dipped 3.25 points.
* Dunkin' Brands Group Inc (DNKN.O) has raised $422.75 million after pricing its IPO at $19 per share, well above the range set by underwriters.
* Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) reported a surge in quarterly revenue late Tuesday, but profits slipped as the largest Internet retailer kept spending on distribution, technology and digital content. The stock was up 6 percent at $227.00 in premarket trade.
* Boeing Co (BA.N), Dow Chemical Co (DOW.N), WellPoint Inc (WLP.N) and General Dynamics Corp (GD.N) all reported quarterly results early Wednesday.
* Investors also awaited earnings from ConocoPhillips (COP.N), Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N) and Visa Inc (V.N).
* On the macroeconomic front, the market waited for June durable goods orders. Economists in a Reuters survey saw a rise in orders of 0.3 percent versus a 2.1 percent increase in May.
* The stalemate in U.S. debt talks dragged down stocks for a second day on Tuesday, and light volume indicated that investors were reluctant to make bets despite another round of healthy earnings.
(Reporting by Angela Moon; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
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