Stock futures hold steady ahead of House debt vote

NEW YORK — Stock futures are little changed as House Republicans prepare a vote on a new plan to avoid a U.S. debt default.

The legislation, set for a vote Thursday, faces steep opposition with Senate Democrats. The White House has also threatened to veto the proposal.

With the deadline for a debt deal just five days away, investors are becoming more fearful that the U.S. credit rating could be lowered. That would raise interest rates.

Ahead of the opening bell, Dow Jones industrial average futures are up 21 points, or 0.2 percent, to 12,265. Standard & Poor's 500 futures are up 2, or 0.1 percent, at 1,302. Nasdaq 100 futures are up 5, or 0.2 percent, at 2,362.

On Wednesday, the Dow fell nearly 200 points, its biggest one-day drop since early June.