Stocks may slip at open

LONDON (CNNMoney.com) -- U.S. stocks were set to open lower Tuesday as investors mulled the previous session's rally, which pushed the Dow just shy of 11,000.

Dow Jones industrial average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq 100 futures were narrowly lower.

Futures measure current index values against perceived future performance and offer an indication of how markets may open when trading begins.

U.S. markets flirted with milestones on Monday. The blue-chip Dow edged closer to 11,000, while the 10-year Treasury yield rose to 4% for the first time in 18 months. Oil prices also rose sharply Monday, settling at the highest level since October 2008.

With the markets at such levels, investors may be reluctant to place big bets without a clear catalyst to move the market higher.

"For the most part the market has been strong," said Derek Hoffman, chief executive and founder of Wall St. Cheat Sheet. "Without any news, I think investors are taking a breather."

He said investors will focus on a statement due later in the day from the Federal Reserve, which could raise questions about when the central bank will increase interest rates. In addition, he said investors are looking ahead to the start of the quarterly corporate reporting period, which begins next week.

Fed: The minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting are due out at 2 p.m. ET.

The central bank voted on March 16 to hold its key short-term interest rate at historic lows near 0% and said rates will remain "exceptionally low" for an "extended" period of time. However, some Fed officials have signaled concerns recently that the central bank's accommodative policies could spur inflation as the economy recovers.

Companies: Federal safety regulators announced Monday that they'll seek the maximum fine of $16.4 million against Toyota Motor (TMC) for failing to notify the agency of a "sticky pedal" defect in its cars for at least four months.

Massey Energy (MEE) confirmed Tuesday that 25 workers were killed in a massive explosion at a sprawling coal mine in West Virginia, making it the deadliest U.S. mining disaster in 25 years.

World markets: European shares rose in morning trading. Britain's FTSE 100 and France's CAC 40 both gained about 0.6%. The DAX in Germany was up 0.3%.

In Asia, markets finished mixed. Japan's Nikkei fell 0.5%. Shares in Australia and China finished in positive territory.

Currencies and commodities: The dollar rose against the euro and the U.K. pound but eased against the Japanese yen.

U.S. light crude oil for May delivery gained 6 cents to $86.67 a barrel. The price of gold for June delivery fell $8.70 an ounce to $1,124.20.

Bonds: Treasurys rose, lowering the yield on the benchmark 10-year note to 3.99%. Bond prices and yields move in opposite directions.

The U.S. will offer $40 billion worth of 3-year notes Tuesday in the second of four auctions this week aimed at selling $82 billion in notes and bonds.