U.S. stock index futures remained little changed Tuesday after the Case-Shiller home price index and following a sharp rally that sent the S&P 500 to its best level in almost four years, after comments from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke who suggested more stimulus could be on the way to boost the U.S. economy.
On the economic front, single-family home prices were unchanged in January, according to the Case-Shiller home price index. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, prices tumbled 0.8 percent. Economists had expected a decline of 0.2 percent, according to a Reuters poll, after December's 0.5 percent slide.
Stocks logged their best one-day rally in almost two weeks in the previous session, lifted by Bernanke's comments that the Fed may continue its easy monetary policy if the jobs market continues to show signs of weakness.
Meanwhile, Bernanke is scheduled to speak again on Tuesday, at 12:45 p.m. ET at George Washington University in the third installment of four guest lectures.
Meanwhile, James Bullard, president of St Louis Federal Reserve Bank struck a less dovish tonethan Bernanke.
Bullard told CNBC that a third round of Treasury purchases was not necessary unless the domestic economy deteriorates further. Bullard said he would like to see the Fed resume a "more normal monetary policy as soon as possible" because it has detrimental effects on the economy.
New York Fed President William Dudley also testifies at 10 a.m. ET before the House Financial Service’s Subcommittee on the European sovereign crisis and the Fed’s role.
