MARKET SNAPSHOT: U.S. Stock Futures Signal Lower Open A Day After Nasdaq Tops 5,000

By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch

Monthly car sales are among Tuesday's highlights

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock futures retreated on Tuesday, a day after the Nasdaq settled above the psychologically significant 5,000 level, suggesting that broader stocks and the tech-laden index may struggle to hang onto yesterday's record gains.

Earnings from Best Buy and AutoZone, as well as monthly sales figures from car makers were also likely to drive trading action.

Futures for the Nasdaq-100 index (NDH5) slipped 4.75 points, or 0.1%, to 4,472.25, suggesting the index could pull back from its key 5,000 level when the markets open. The benchmark closed at 5,008.10 on Monday, only 0.8% short of its record close of 5,048.62 hit on March 10, 2000.

The S&P 500 index (SPX) and Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI)both closed at record highs on Monday, but were poised for a slight pullback on Tuesday. Futures for the S&P (SPH5) dropped 2.80 points, or 0.1%, to 2,111.10, while those for the Dow Average (DJH5) fell 19 points, or 0.1%, to 18,229.

Car sales: With no top-tier data releases on tap Tuesday, monthly auto-sales figures are the highlight of the day. Economists polled by MarketWatch expect total sales to have climbed to 16.7 million in February, up from 16.6 million in January. Shares of General Motors Co. (GM.XX) and Ford Motor Co. (F) were unchanged premarket.

Fed speakers: Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen is set to deliver a speech on bank regulation and supervision at the Citizens Budget Commission's Annual Awards Dinner in New York City at 8:15 p.m. Eastern.

Earnings: Electronics retailer Best Buy Co Inc.(BBY) climbed 4.8% in premarket action after unveiling a dividend hike (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/best-buy-shares-up-23-as-profit-beats-unveils-dividend-hike-and-buyback-2015-03-03) and share buyback program.

Car-parts retailer AutoZone Inc.(AZO) picked up 3.6% ahead of the bell after reporting profit and sales above expectations (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/autozones-profit-sales-rise-above-expectations-2015-03-03).

Shares of Kate Spade & Co.(KATE) dropped 3.7% after the designer clothing company reported fourth-quarter earnings.

Sports-equipment retailer Dick's Sporting Goods Inc.(DKS) reported fourth-quarter earnings of $1.30 per share.

Movers and shakers: Shares of McDermott International Inc.(MDR) soared 25% ahead of the bell after the oilfield-engineering company late Monday posted a surprise profit for the fourth quarter (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/mcdermott-shares-jump-on-surprise-earnings-2015-03-02).

Citigroup Inc.(C) picked up 1% premarket after lender Springleaf Holdings Inc.(LEAF) said it has agreed to buy the banking giant's OneMain Financial for about $4.25 billion (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/springleaf-agrees-to-425-billion-deal-for-citigroups-onemain-2015-03-03).

Pharmaceuticals company Mylan NV(MYL) could also be active after reporting earnings in line with forecasts (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/mylan-posts-higher-profit-and-sales-2015-03-02-164855015) late Monday.

Caesars Entertainment Corp.(CZR) could move after saying its fourth-quarter loss narrowed to $7 a share from a loss of $12.83 a share in the year-earlier period.

Other markets:European stock markets advanced (http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid), boosted by better-than-expected data from Germany and Spain. Asian stocks closed mixed (http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid), with China's Shanghai Composite Index sliding 2.2%.

Crude-oil futures (CLJ5) climbed back above $50 a barrel (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/oil-ticks-higher-but-stays-volatile-2015-03-03), while metals were mixed (http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid). The ICE dollar index (DXY) was up 0.1%.

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