US STOCKS-Futures sink as Trump tests positive for COVID-19

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* Futures off: Dow 1.56%, S&P 1.54%, Nasdaq 1.78%

Oct 2 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures sank as much as 2% on Friday after President Donald Trump said he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for COVID-19.

With equity markets already nervous about an uncertain presidential election in less than five weeks, analysts said the news had the potential to hurt Trump's campaigning ability and jack up market volatility.

"If Trump's symptoms are mild and he stages a quick recovery, his support could increase," said Yako Sera, market strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank in Tokyo.

"However, this does damage Trump's ability to campaign and time is running out before the election. Whether it's Trump or Biden, the biggest problem is uncertainty. As long as we're uncertain about who will win the election, it is difficult for markets to truly settle."

Trading in U.S. stocks was choppy in the previous session as investors juggled hopeful and pessimistic news on the progress of stimulus talks in Washington.

With a bipartisan deal continuing to elude House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the White House, the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved a $2.2 trillion Democratic plan on fiscal aid, but objections from top Republicans are likely to doom the plan in the Senate.

At 1:56 a.m. ET, Dow e-minis were down 432 points, or 1.56%, S&P 500 e-minis were down 52 points, or 1.54% and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 205.5 points, or 1.78%. (Reporting by Sagarika Jaisinghani in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)