U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open Monday, in the wake of a negative week for the major indexes as investors braced for the next batch of earnings and data on the state of the housing market.
In economic news this morning, a gauge of manufacturing activity in New York reported a slight increase, after plunging the previous month.
Later this morning, the National Association of Home Builders will release its latest figures at 10 a.m., giving a snapshot of the health of the sector in August. The results are ahead of July's housing starts data, which is released Tuesday.
In earnings news, Lowe's turned inworse-than-expected earnings and sales, and warned of a bleaker outlook ahead until the housing market turns around.
After the bell earnings include retailer Urban Outfitters and scientific-instrument maker Agilent.
European shares were mostly lower with financials leading the decline. Asian stocks ended largely in the red, but Chinese stocks put in a strong performance.
Japanese stocks lost ground after gross domestic product data showed the nation's economy had slowed faster than expected as the relatively strong yen continued to dent exporters.