Investing.com - U.S. stock futures pointed to a lower open on Tuesday, as markets were jittery ahead of the minutes of the Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting due on Wednesday, and as second-quarter earnings season was set to begin after the closing bell.
Ahead of the open, the Dow 30 futures pointed to a 0.12% loss, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.13% fall, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.05% dip.
U.S. stocks reached record highs last Thursday after a strong U.S. jobs report sparked speculation that the Fed could bring forward its timetable for raising interest rates.
The U.S. economy added a larger-than-forecast 288,000 jobs last month, while the unemployment rate ticked down to 6.1%, the lowest in almost six years.
But investors remained cautious amid expectations that the Fed will stick to its dovish stance on monetary policy amid concerns over ongoing slow growth in inflation and wages.
Alcoa (NYSE:AA) was expected to be active as the aluminum producer was set to kick of second-quarter earnings season after the close.
American Apparel (NYSE:APP) was also likely to remain in focus amid reports the retailer's creditor Lion Capital LLP is demanding immediate repayment of a $10 million loan after the two sides failed to reach an agreement.
On Monday, Standard General LP, American Apparel's largest investor, said it was considering paying off the loan to help the company avoid deeper legal disputes.
Among auto stocks, General Motors (NYSE:GM) said it wont recall the almost 1.8 million pickups and sport-utility vehicles in which rusting brake lines have been reported.
The issue, which GM does not consider a safety hazard, has reportedly caused at least 26 crashes, three injuries and a four-year-old probe by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The airline sector was also slated to move after Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) on Monday joined other carriers in reducing service to Venezuela.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were lower. The DJ Euro Stoxx 50 retreated 0.49%, France’s CAC 40 slid 0.41%, Germany's DAX dropped 0.55%, while Britain's FTSE 100 lost 0.58%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng inched up 0.04%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.42%.