NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are poised to begin the week lower as earnings season begins in earnest and international pressures continue.
Oil prices remain high, at $108 a barrel, constraining the market’s gains. Japan’s nuclear crisis remains a worry as high levels of radiation were detected in its crippled nuclear power plant.
World markets plunged as China took another step to curb its growth and contain inflation.
Stocks ended last week lower but made modest gains on Friday after several encouraging economic reports overshadowed weak earnings from Google and Bank of America.
Ahead of the opening bell, Dow Jones industrial average futures are down 68 points, or 0.6 percent. Standard & Poor’s 500 futures are down 8, or 0.6 percent. Nasdaq 100 futures are down 12, or 0.5 percent.
