MARKET SNAPSHOT: Stock Futures Flatten After Weak German Data; Focus On Fed

By Barbara Kollmeyer, MarketWatch

MADRID (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock futures struggling Monday as relief after European Union bank stress tests was replaced by worry over weak German data.

Analysts said investors could see some jitters in the run-up to this week's Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

Futures for the S&P 500 index (SPZ4) fell 1.3 points to 1,958.40, while those for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJZ4) added 2 points to 16,738. Futures for the Nasdaq-100 index (NDZ4) rose 2 points to 4,035.50.

The S&P 500 (SPX) posted its biggest weekly gain of 2014 last week, rising 4.1%, with stocks lifted by upbeat corporate results and strong housing data. This week, markets will focus on the Federal Open Market Committee meeting, where the central bank is expected to announce the end of quantitative easing. How QE worked in the U.S. -- and could work in Europe.

Traders will be looking to see if the Fed drops the "considerable period" for keeping rates low at its two-day policy meeting, which concludes Wednesday. As several Fed officials have come out with dovish comments recently, investors largely expect that guidance to be reiterated.

Goldman sees another 10% gain for stocks: The S&P 500 should climb to 2,050 by year-end and rise by 10% to 2,150 in 10 months, said Goldman Sachs's chief equity strategist David Kostin in a note to clients Friday. He said that move will come as "investors recognize the durability of U.S. growth, despite faltering global activity."

The September reading on pending home sales will be released at 10 a.m. Eastern Time. The week will also deliver data on durable goods, gross domestic product and consumer spending. Growth data will be the highlight, with the government expected to report economic expansion of 3% in the third quarter.

Stocks to watch: Merck & Co. Inc.(MRK) and Allergan Inc. (AGN) will report ahead of the market's open. Merck is among the health-care and energy sectors that are expected to dominate investor attention this week as they deliver results. After the close on Monday, Twitter Inc. (TWTR) will report earnings. What to look for in Twitter's results

Other markets: European stocks drifted to flat after the German Ifo index of business sentiment fell to 103.2, falling short of forecasts. The survey's outlook for the German economy also deteriorated again. Banks were getting a lift from the results of regulators' stress tests, which found most lenders in good health. In Asia, markets had a mixed day with Chinese stocks off, but Japan's Nikkei index climbing. Oil (CLZ4) ticked higher, while gold (GCZ4) prices did the opposite.

Stocks and ETFs linked to Brazil came under sharp pressure in premarket action, after President Dilma Rousseff won a second term on Sunday, defeating the conservative Aecio Neves in a narrow victory. Economists worry that four more years of Rousseff will increase Brazil's economic downturn.

The Direxion Daily Brazil Bull 3X Shares ETF (BRZU) tumbled 27%, while U.S.-listed shares of Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PBR) slid 14% in premarket action.

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