U.S. markets come off solid week, but have to confront Mideast tension and upcoming 3Q results.
U.S. stock markets, off to a solid start in October, begin a new trading week Monday amid renewed concern about the Middle East and anticipation about third-quarter results.
At 5:30 a.m. ET, futures pointed to a flat to higher start for the major indexes.
U.S. markets are coming off a strong week, capped by Friday's gains on a better-than-expected September employment report. The Dow Jones industrial average was up 2.8 percent for the week including Friday's 84-1/2 point advance. The Nasdaq composite index was almost 5 percent higher after a 44-plus point gain (see chart for details).
The weekend was full of violence in the Middle East, with Saturday's suicide bombing of an Israeli restaurant that killed 19 other people and the reprisal airstrike against what the Israelis said was a terrorist training site in Syria. (Click here for the latest developments from CNN.com) Some investors worry that instability in the region could drag on oil prices, and cause more problems for the United States, which is dealing with difficult military situations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Investors are waiting for the first two Dow components to report September quarter results -- Alcoa (AA: Research, Estimates) and General Electric (GE: Research, Estimates) -- as well as from Internet portal Yahoo! (YHOO: Research, Estimates) The reports will come out throughout the week.
Among U.S. stocks trading in Europe, Alcoa was up nearly 1 percent, GE was down more than 1 percent and Yahoo! was slightly negative.
Asian-Pacific stocks ended mostly higher on the strength of the U.S. employment report; Tokyo's Nikkei index rose 0.3 percent. European markets started the day mixed. (Check the latest on world markets)
Treasury prices were little changed, with the 10-year note yield at 4.20 percent. The dollar edged up against the yen, but was slightly lower versus the euro.
Brent oil futures gained 47 cents to $28.68 a barrel in London, where gold tumbled in early trading.
Many market participants will be sidelined Monday for the Jewish commemoration of Yom Kippur.
U.S. stock markets, off to a solid start in October, begin a new trading week Monday amid renewed concern about the Middle East and anticipation about third-quarter results.
At 5:30 a.m. ET, futures pointed to a flat to higher start for the major indexes.
U.S. markets are coming off a strong week, capped by Friday's gains on a better-than-expected September employment report. The Dow Jones industrial average was up 2.8 percent for the week including Friday's 84-1/2 point advance. The Nasdaq composite index was almost 5 percent higher after a 44-plus point gain (see chart for details).
The weekend was full of violence in the Middle East, with Saturday's suicide bombing of an Israeli restaurant that killed 19 other people and the reprisal airstrike against what the Israelis said was a terrorist training site in Syria. (Click here for the latest developments from CNN.com) Some investors worry that instability in the region could drag on oil prices, and cause more problems for the United States, which is dealing with difficult military situations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Investors are waiting for the first two Dow components to report September quarter results -- Alcoa (AA: Research, Estimates) and General Electric (GE: Research, Estimates) -- as well as from Internet portal Yahoo! (YHOO: Research, Estimates) The reports will come out throughout the week.
Among U.S. stocks trading in Europe, Alcoa was up nearly 1 percent, GE was down more than 1 percent and Yahoo! was slightly negative.
Asian-Pacific stocks ended mostly higher on the strength of the U.S. employment report; Tokyo's Nikkei index rose 0.3 percent. European markets started the day mixed. (Check the latest on world markets)
Treasury prices were little changed, with the 10-year note yield at 4.20 percent. The dollar edged up against the yen, but was slightly lower versus the euro.
Brent oil futures gained 47 cents to $28.68 a barrel in London, where gold tumbled in early trading.
Many market participants will be sidelined Monday for the Jewish commemoration of Yom Kippur.
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