Mixed start for stocks
U.S. markets little changed at the open as investors show caution ahead of week's economic reports.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Stocks opened little changed Monday as investors were cautious ahead of the week's economic reports
The Dow Jones industrial average gained 0.1%. The Nasdaq composite index eased 0.2%. The Standard & Poor's 500 index was 0.1% lower.
In the news Monday:
Fannie Mae: Shares fell almost 3% in Europe after an article over the weekend in Barron's suggested the giant mortgage backer could need a government bailout if the housing market continues to swoon. Stock (FNM)
Countrywide Financial: The FBI is looking into fraud allegations against the mortgage lender, a U.S. government official told CNN. Stock (CFC, Fortune 500)
Thornburg Mortgage: An analyst downgraded the stock, less than a week after a lender issued a default notice to the mortgage and real estate investment trust. Stock (TMA)
McDonald's: The world's largest hamburger chain Monday its global same-store sales rose 11.7%, driven by growth in Europe and the benefit of an extra selling day this year. Stock (MCD, Fortune 500)
Wyeth: The drug maker said Monday it will invest $280 million in a nutritional plant to be built in China. Stock (WYE, Fortune 500)
Chevron: The oil company and its partners have approved an investment of $3.1 billion to develop a gas project in the Gulf of Thailand, the company said Monday. Stock (CVX, Fortune 500)
Yahoo: The Internet portal company increased two top executives' bonuses last year amid a deepening slump that set the stage for Microsoft's unsolicited bid for the struggling Internet pioneer. Stock (YHOO, Fortune 500)
Dollar: The dollar slipped against the euro Monday, but traded above the all-time lows from last week when investors recoiled from dire U.S. jobs figures.
Gasoline prices: Prices rose more than 9 cents over the past two weeks, to a national average of $3.20 per gallon for self-serve regular, a survey said Sunday.
-- from staff and wire reports 
