Stock traders hope to extend the market's rally, but remained concerned about Japan's nuclear crisis and violence in the Middle East and North Africa.
Last week was the best for the Dow Jones industrial average since July as investors focused on encouraging U.S. economic news. But stock futures were subdued Monday, edging up only slightly even after the government reported consumer spending rose faster than expected in February.
Traders are closely watching developments in Japan, where concerns have emerged that a leaking nuclear reactor in the Fukushima nuclear complex is releasing radioactive iodine into seawater farther north of the plant than previously thought.
Stocks are also vulnerable to news about uprisings in the Arab world. In Libya, rebels are gaining ground against longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi. Elsewhere in the region, violence spread to Syria, Bahrain and Yemen.
Oil prices fell as Libyan rebels regained control of the key port towns Ras Lanouf and Brega and said they would resume exporting crude within weeks. At $104.06 a barrel, crude is still elevated. Its high price could weigh on stocks.
Ahead of the bell, Dow futures rose 10 points, or 0.1 percent, to 12,180. S&P 500 futures rose 1, or 0.1 percent, to 1,311. Nasdaq 100 futures rose 6, or 0.3 percent, to 2,322.
The Commerce Department reported that consumer spending grew in February at the fastest pace in four months, but some of that money went toward a more expensive tank of gas. Consumer spending rose 0.7 percent in February. Personal incomes rose 0.3 percent after a Social Security tax cut boosted take-home pay. High prices at the pump were a big part of the increased spending, but economists are concerned fuel costs could cut into household budgets and li
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