Armed pro-Russian groups mobilize in eastern Ukraine Pro-Russian separatists took over the City Council building in Makiivka, a city located about 10 miles from Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.
Futures for the S&P 500 index were last down 4.6 points to 1,807.10, while those for the Dow Jones Industrial Average eased 38 points to 15,943. Futures for the Nasdaq-100 index fell 12.75 points to 3,431.25.
Citigroup C -0.07% will report first-quarter results ahead of the bell, and analysts surveyed by FactSet are expecting the investment bank to report net income of $3.56 billion, or $1.14 earnings per share. That’s compared with net income of $3.8 billion, or $1.29 earnings per share, in the year-earlier period
With the growth outlook a clear issue for investors, they will look to corporate earnings for some confidence. The results of Citigroup will therefore be scrutinized closely, particularly after the dour numbers from J.P. Morgan last week.
A disappointing set of results from J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. helped wipe 1% off the S&P 500 index on Friday. Overall market losses were also driven by an extended sell off in technology stocks on that pushed the Nasdaq Composite below 4,000. The Nasdaq also suffered its worst weekly percentage drop — 3.1% — since June 2012.
“With the growth outlook a clear issue for investors, they will look to corporate earnings for some confidence, of Citigroup will therefore be scrutinized closely, particularly after the dour numbers from JP Morgan last week.
Retail sales will also be a focal point for investors ahead of the open. The data, due at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, is expected to show consumers spent more in March. Forecasters are calling for a 0.9% rise, compared with a 0.3% gain in February and declines in January and February. The main question is whether that March spending can be sustained.
Outside of Citigroup, shares of Herbalife Ltd. could be in the spotlight after the Federal of Bureau of Investigation and U.S. prosecutors in Manhattan are investigating the company.