NEW YORK (CNN/Money) -
A solid earnings report from home improvement retailer Lowe's could help set the tone for a strong start to the trading week Monday.
At 7:05 a.m. ET, futures pointed to a higher open for the major indexes.
Lowe's (LOW: Research, Estimates), the No. 2 home improvement merchant, posted fiscal fourth-quarter results of 51 cents a share, up from 40 cents a share a year earlier and above the 49 cents a share consensus of analysts surveyed by First Call. In addition, the company projected stronger-than-expected earnings for the current quarter.
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For details of Friday's decline, click above
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The report is being closely watched for indications on how well Lowe's doing compared with its bigger rival, Dow component Home Depot (HD: Research, Estimates), which reports its results early Tuesday.
The Dow Jones industrial average begins the week at 10,619.03, having dipped 0.1 percent last week. The Nasdaq composite index is at 2,037.93, after dropping about three-quarters of a percent last week (see chart for details of Friday's session).
Japan's Nikkei index ended Monday with a 1.4 percent gain, while other Asian-Pacific markets were flat or lower. European stocks rose in early trading. (Check the latest on world markets)
Among U.S. stocks trading in Europe, Citigroup was unchanged. The nation's No. 1 financial services company announced Monday that it is buying South Korea's Koram Bank for $2.73 billion.
Treasury prices were little changed, with the 10-year note yield at 4.09 percent. The dollar weakened against the yen and euro.
Brent oil futures lost 4 cents to $30.65 a barrel in London. Gold slipped, testing the $400 an ounce level.
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