Stocks were poised to rebound slightly Tuesday, as investors waited for some more data on the broader economy due shortly after the start of trading.
Energy was also in focus, although this time it was natural gas making headlines instead of crude. Natural gas futures rose more than 1 percent after Russian gas supplies to some EU countries fell sharply.
At the same time, US light, sweeet crude hit a one-month high above $50 a barrel as Israel's incursion into Gaza and a dispute between Russia and Ukraine over natural gas heightened concern about supply disruptions.
The move higher boosted shares of major energy producers, with ExxonMobil climbing about 0.5 percent in premarket trading.
In corporate news, shares of Logitech International slipped after the world's largest computer mouse manufacturer cut its 2009 forecast and said it would be cutting jobs.
Also,
Petrochemical IndustriesMcCann's departure could lead to a flood of Merrill's brokers following him out the door