US futures edge lower ahead of earnings

Futures on major U.S. indices point to modestly lower opening on Monday as investors awaited the earnings from major firms including McDonald's and Texas Instruments.

Futures on the S&P 500 are down 0.05 percent, futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average are down 0.01 percent and Nasdaq-100 futures are down 0.02 percent.

As no major economic data are due to be released on Monday, investors are likely to focus on earnings reports.

Before the opening bell, Oilfield services provider Halliburton Co. (NYSE: HAL) and Foodservice retailer McDonald's Corp. (NYSE: MCD) are due to report their quarterly earnings.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect Halliburton to earn 63 cents a share on revenue of $4.87 billion, while McDonald is projected to report a profit of $1.15 a share on revenue of $6.21 billion.

Texas Instruments Inc. (NYSE:TXN) is due to report fourth quarter earnings after the market closes on Monday. Analysts expect the company to report quarter earnings per share of $0.63 from $0.52 last year.

On Friday, US stocks closed mixed as investors digested corporate earnings news. Dow advanced 49.04 points to 11,871.84 and S&P 500 gained 3.09 points to 1,285.35, while Nasdaq declined 0.55 percent.

The euro declined 0.51 percent to 1.3551 against the dollar and the yen declined 0.40 percent against the greenback.

Crude oil futures declined 0.71 percent to $88.48/barrel and gold futures advanced 0.37 percent.

European stock markets are currently trading mixed with FTSE 100 up by 13.68 points, DAX30 down by 41.63 points and CAC 40 down by 6.10 points.