Fate of automakers looms over Wall Street

Any advance in stocks would be seen as a sign that stability is returning to Wall Street. Friday’s gain was the eighth for the Dow in 10 sessions, but stocks still finished lower for the week.

The Dow fell 2.2 percent, the Standard & Poor’s 500 index lost 2.3 percent, and the Nasdaq composite index shed 1.7 percent.

On Sunday evening, major stock indexes were barely changed in futures trading as traders seemed unwilling to make bets. Dow Jones industrial average futures shed 24, or 0.28 percent, to 8,588. Standard & Poor’s 500 index futures fell 2.90, or 0.33 percent, to 869.50; while Nasdaq-100 futures fell 3.25, or 0.28 percent, to 1,174.75.

The next few weeks might also shed some more light on how companies are faring during the fourth quarter, and that could trigger big swings for the market. In preparing to report fourth-quarter results in January, many companies might begin to issue warnings about their results.

Last week, a number of companies — including Merck & Co. and DuPont — trimmed guidance for what is expected to be another gloomy quarter.

And others might come this week. Earnings are expected from a number of major companies, including H&R Block Inc., AutoZone Inc., Kroger Co., and Costco Wholesale Corp.

Investors will also start to look for signs about what kind of losses financial companies like Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley might report.

AP Jobs, spending data hint at recovery In a hopeful sign for the economy, the number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits fell below 500,000 last week for the first time since January. New-home sales rise to highest level in a year Consumers log stronger-than-expected rebound Durable goods orders fall unexpectedly Recovery's pace slower than first thought

Ryan Larson, head of equities trading at Voyageur Asset Management, said many on Wall Street are keeping a close eye on financial stocks to help gauge any recovery for the market and the economy. For instance, Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. raised its full-year operating profit forecast and said the capital outlook at its insurance units was strong.

“The longer we can go without banks continuing to need to raise capital every single day, that’s going to be a good thing,” Larson said.

While some companies continue to tough out a brutal economy, others might turn toward dealmaking to weather the recession. There was speculation over the weekend that Deutsche Boerse AG, which runs the Frankfurt stock exchange, was in talks with NYSE Euronext about a possible deal.

The German bourse said late Sunday that any talks with the New York Stock Exchange, which also operates Paris-based Euronext, has “ended without any conclusion.” A spokesman for the NYSE would not comment.

Also in msnbc.com business ConsumerMan: The great rebate debate Retailers learn lessons from Black Friday death Your Career: How your name may hurt you Answer Desk: Unemployment benefit madness   Video: Stores are hoping for a holiday miracle

MORE FROM TECHNOLOGY & MONEY

Technology & Money Section Front

Your shopping type: Black Friday? Cyber Monday? Can your name affect your career? Is Black Friday really worth the effort?   Navigating Black Friday   Is Black Friday the best day for deals? 10 tips to find seasonal work this year   Experts share financial advice   Stop holiday overspending before it starts   Is the recovery real on Wall Street?   Study: Wall St. execs cashed in before collapse Technology & Money Section Front   Add Technology & Money headlines to your news reader: