NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Stocks were headed for a mixed opening Tuesday as the run up in oil prices continued.

U.S. stock futures were lower, but after taking fair value into account, it appeared the markets would open mixed.

After being lower in early trading, oil prices were higher in early Tuesday trading, following a rise of nearly $2 Monday. U.S. crude for April delivery up 32 cents to $62.09 a barrel in electronic trading, while Brent April crude gained 52 cents to $62.72.

"I think the energy prices are going to overhang us for a while, maybe a good long while," said Michael Carty, stock market strategist at New Millennium Advisors. "It's looking like there's going to be a problem with fuel prices again, and the markets are concerned the consumer is going to be tapped out by the end of the year."

One focus on energy prices Tuesday will come when oil company executives appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee to answer questions about their firms' billions in record profits. Committee chairman Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., is introducing legislation that would give the government more power to stop oil and natural gas company mergers if such deals reduced available energy supplies and raised prices.

Carty says that with the quarter getting near the end, people are also wary about possible earnings warnings from companies.

"There's a lack of enthusiasm for going one way or another right now," he said. "I'm in no hurry to take a long position."

In the latest reading on consumer spending, the government said early Tuesday that retail sales in February fell by 1.3 percent. Economists surveyed by Briefing.com expected a decline of 0.9 percent in February after an exceptionally strong revised 2.9 percent gain in January.

Excluding autos, retail sales fell by 0.4 percent. Economists expected a 0.5 percent drop, compared to a revised 2.6 percent gain on that basis the previous month.

Major markets in Asia closed mostly lower Tuesday, hit by rising oil prices and persist ant fears of interest rate hikes as Japan moves away from its loose monetary system.

Major European markets turned lower, also due to higher oil prices. The exception was London, which gained on takeover talk.

Treasury prices rose, lowering the yield on the benchmark 10-year note to 4.74 percent from 4.79 percent late Friday. The dollar was mixed, falling against the yen but rising on the euro.

In corporate news, sources said cable operator Comcast (Research) is in talks with Disney to buy full control of entertainment channel E!. Currently Comcast owns 60 percent and manages the channel, while Disney (Research) owns 40 percent. Analysts said any deal could be worth around $1 billion.

For a more detailed look at the markets before the open, click here.