MARKET SNAPSHOT: U.S. Stocks: Futures Drift Lower; Apple In Focus

By Anora Mahmudova and Barbara Kollmeyer, MarketWatch

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock futures drifted lower early Tuesday as investors digested earnings beats and misses, but kept their attention firmly focused on the hotly anticipated Apple Inc.'s product event later in the day.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (SPU4) were down 7 points to 17,093 and those for the S&P 500 index (SPU4) were down less than a point at 2,000.10. Futures for the Nasdaq-100 index (NDU4) were flat at 4,093.75.

Among economic news, small-business sentiment in August nudged up to its second-highest reading since October 2007, a trade group said Tuesday. Data on job openings for July is due at 10 a.m. Eastern. Also read: Michael Sincere on why this stock market will never go down

On Monday, the S&P 500(SPX) closed off 0.3% to 2,001, pulling back from Friday's record close, while the Nasdaq Composite (RIXF) rose 0.2%. Tech stocks may lead the action on Tuesday, given the spotlight on Apple.

Stocks to watch: The iPhone maker (AAPL) will hold its product event at 10 a.m. PDT (1 p.m. Eastern) near its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. The newest version of its flagship phone and an iWatch wearable device are among key things that could help boost shares of Apple. Also read: Tim Mullaney on why Apple exemplifies everything that's wrong about Silicon Valley.

McDonald's (MCD) on Tuesday said global comparable sales fell 3.7% in August, with the fast-food giant blaming "several headwinds" for the decline. Shares were slightly lower premarket. Also read: The secret to a long life? Fast food

Shares of Annie's Inc.(BNNY) rose 37%, on the heels of a similar late-session rally after General Mills Inc. (GIS) offered to buy the organic foods company for $820 million in cash.

Shares of Pinnacle Foods Inc.(PF) fell 3.8% in premarket trade after the packaged-foods company said shareholders tied primarily to investment firm Blackstone will sell 15 million common shares.

Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS) shares fell 3.9% after the bookseller reported quarterly results. Same-store sales fell by more than expected. Read about more of the day's notable stock moves here.

Other markets: Brent crude oil prices held steady at $100 a barrel, while the dollar charted new highs against the yen (USDJPY) and the euro (EURUSD). Europe stocks posted mild losses, while Asia markets saw mostly modest gains overnight.

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