U.S. stocks were poised for a flat open on Tuesday, after the S&P 500 advanced for two straight days and investors assessed some of the final corporate results of earnings season.
Home Depot (HD.N) lost 1.3 percent to $75.52 in premarket trade after the home improvement retailer reported lower-than-expected quarterly sales as its spring selling season got off to a slow start.
Staples Inc (SPLS.O) tumbled 10.9 percent to $11.93 after the office supply retailer posted first-quarter earnings and forecast a decline in sales in the current quarter.
Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS.N) estimated current-quarter earnings way below analysts' average estimate and cut its full-year 2014 adjusted earnings and same-store sales growth forecasts due to weak demand for its golf and hunting products. Its shares tumbled 14.7 percent to $45.35 in premarket.
Equities have pulled back since hitting their most recent record high May 13 as economic data has painted a mixed picture and failed to confirm an acceleration in the economy that many had hoped to see.
S&P 500 e-mini futures shed 1.3 points and were roughly even with fair value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract. Dow Jones industrial average e-mini futures lost 9 points and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures shed 1 point.
U.S.-listed shares of AstraZeneca (AZN.N) advanced 1.9 percent to $71.97 in premarket after its twelfth largest shareholder, Schroders, joined a chorus of investor disapproval over its rejection of a takeover offer by Pfizer (PFE.N) and urged it back into talks.
Aeroflex Holding Corp (ARX.N) jumped 24.9 percent to $10.38 before the opening bell. British aerospace and defense supplier Cobham (COB.L) is buying the U.S. communications equipment maker for $1.46 billion.
U.S. stocks rose on Monday, as a rally in high-growth names among Internet and biotech shares sent the Nasdaq to a gain of nearly 1 percent and investors shrugged off recent concerns about stock valuations and the economy's growth prospects.
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