U.S. markets could be gearing up to bounce back Tuesday after a disappointing start to the week.
U.S. stock futures were nudging higher ahead of the opening bell.
U.S. investors will receive a variety of economic and corporate news Tuesday as they await the latest reading on economic growth and statement from the Federal Reserve on Wednesday, and Friday's jobs report for July.
Home prices posted at 12.2% annual increase in May, according to the S&P Case-Shiller Index, released ahead of the opening bell. That is the biggest year-over-year gain since 2006, near the peak of the housing bubble.
At 10 a.m. ET, the Conference Board will release its monthly reading on consumer confidence.
Dow component Pfizer (PFE) reported a drop in earnings that nonetheless beat analysts' forecast by a penny a share. Insurer Aetna (AET) reported improved operating income that also beat forecasts as it raised its full-year earnings guidance.
Late Monday, controversial nutritional supplements company Herbalife (HLF) reported better-than-expected earnings and raised its guidance, sending its shares higher in premarket trading.
Sprint (S) reported a loss for the quarter as it shut down its Nextel network and moved millions of subscribers to its Sprint platform. The loss comes even as the company boosted sales.
Shares of BP (BP) fell after the company's quarterly results missed market expectations. BP reported a drop in earnings due, in part, to lower oil prices and higher taxes. BP is also expecting to pay more in U.S. settlements related to the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill in 2010.
Barclays (BCS) shares fell after the bank revealed it will be selling $8.9 billion in new shares at a discounted price to existing shareholders to meet capital requirements set out by regulators.
Shares of Mosiac Co. (MOS), a major U.S. potash producer, plunged after a Russian potash producer pulled out of a cartel, a move expected to send prices of the fertilizer raw material sharply lower.
CBS (CBS) and Time Warner Cable (TWC) agreed to continue negotiations on the fee the cable operator pays to carry Showtime as well as CBS in the nation's largest markets. The new deadline that could see 3 million Time Warner Cable customers lose the networks was pushed back to Friday.
Related: BP fighting 'inflated' Gulf spill payouts
On Monday, all three indexes fell as investors reduced exposure to stocks ahead of this week's Fed meeting.
European markets were higher in midday trading, even as banking shares were under pressure. Meanwhile, Asian markets bounced back from Monday's losses, with all major indexes closing with gains.
