European stocks are expected to follow Asian equities lower

European stocks are expected to follow Asian equities lower after U.S. futures slid on reports that China could stop propping up its equity markets.

The opening calls come after China's Shanghai Composite fell more than 3 percent in intraday trading and other Asian equity indices fell into negative territory on a report in the Financial Times that Beijing had ended the large-scale share purchase program that it was using to support the market.

Shanghai down 3%; Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index 3,119.242 (-113.107CNY -3.50%) As of 01:17:32 ET on
08/31/2015/; A-shares of Bank of China, China Construction Bank and Bank of Communications lost 3 percent each after warning of rising bad loans last week.

Comments from Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer regarding the likelihood of a September interest rate hike in the U.S. has also weighed on investor sentiment. Fed Governor of Atlanta Dennis Lockhart, determine the chances of change as in September approximately equal.

In data news, investors will be eying euro-area inflation for further indications on the strength of the bloc's economy.