Investing.com - U.S. stock futures pointed to a flat open on Tuesday as Wall Street prepares to follow Asian and European footsteps in what would appear to put an end to a global rally in stocks.
The blue-chip Dow futures inched up 10 points, or 0.06%, by 12:18GMT, or 7:18AM ET, the S&P 500 futures slipped 0.75 points, or 0.04%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 futures traded down 6 points, or 0.14%.
In earnings news related to the U.S. real estate market, Dow component Home Depot (N:HD) surged 2.4% in the pre-market as the world’s largest home retailer reported earnings that beat consensus.
To the contrary, home-builder Toll Brothers Inc (N:TOL) came out with earnings-per-share that missed the average analyst forecast by a penny.
Meanwhile, investors await possible clues to future moves by the Federal Reserve.
Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari, Fed Vice Chair Stanley Fischer and Dallas Fed President Rob Kaplan are all scheduled to speak throughout the day and market players will pay close attention for comments on the state of the US economy or the possibility of changes in interest rates.
Along the same lines, investors will eye macro data that could also affect the Fed’s monetary policy.
The Conference Board will publish data on February consumer confidence at 15:00GMT, or 10:00AM ET, while January existing home sales is due at the same time.
In other data of lesser market impact, the Redbook index will gauge the state of same-store sales, the Case Shiller/S&P housing price index will take the pulse of the U.S. real estate market and the Richmond manufacturing index will provide details on business conditions in the area.
Elsewhere, European stocks dropped from a three-week high, tracking their Asian counterparts lower, while black gold attempted to stage a recovery from earlier losses.
U.S. crude was up 6 cents, or 0.18%, at $33.45 a barrel, by 12:15GMT, or 7:15AM ET, while Brent gained 36 cents, or 1.07%, to $35.06.