By Anora Mahmudova and Barbara Kollmeyer, MarketWatch

Retailers to report and new-home sales on tap

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock futures pointed to a flat open on Wall Street Tuesday, as investors were cautious ahead of another day of testimony by Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen, and following downbeat results from Hewlett-Packard Inc.

New-home sales data, and earnings from Target Corp., Dollar Tree Inc. and Lowe's Cos. are likely to vie for investors attention on Tuesday.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJH5) were largely flat at 18,181, while those for the S&P 500 index (SPH5) were down 2.5 points to 2,110.70. Futures for the Nasdaq-100 index (NDH5) fell 7 points to 4,442.55.

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) could be adding to that pressure on the tech index, with shares down nearly 8% in thin premarket trading. The company said first-quarter revenue (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/comcast-h-p-macys-first-solar-earnings-in-focus-2015-02-24) fell short of Wall Street's expectations, and it also cut its 2015 outlook to adjust for a stronger dollar.

Modest gains for Wall Street on Tuesday still left markets in record territory. The S&P 500 (SPX) and Dow industrials (DJI) each nabbed new closing records, at 2,115.48 and 18,209.19, respectively. The Nasdaq Composite (RIXF) rose 0.1%, leaving it just 1.6% off its March 2000 peak and advancing for the 10th straight session in a row.

Read more: What's changed since the last time the Nasdaq was at 5,000? (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/six-differences-between-now-and-last-time-nasdaq-was-at-5000-2015-02-24)

Stocks got a lift after Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen's testimony to the Senate reassured watchers that a rate hike might not occur until the second half of the year.

Read more: Yellen prepares markets for a less-patient Fed (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/yellen-prepares-markets-for-less-patient-fed-2015-02-24)

(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/yellen-prepares-markets-for-less-patient-fed-2015-02-24)"Answering a question about inflation, she concluded that she cannot see any evidence that inflation will rise anytime soon. So the June rate hike is off the table, especially if tomorrow's CPI slows any further," said Nour Al-Hammoury, chief market strategist at ADS Securities in Abu Dhabi, in a note to investors.

"The more the U.S. figures disappoint, the more the U.S. equities will keep on rising," he said.

"So far the S&P 500's action has lock-stepped with the comments in these [Yellen's] missives in that the market's internal energy is being released on the upside. Surprisingly, given the two-week rally, there is still plenty of internal energy available to push prices higher," said Jeffrey Saut, chief investment strategist at Raymond James in a note to investors.

Yellen heads back for a second day of testimony to Congress on Wednesday, at 10 a.m. Eastern time. At the same time, new-home sales for January will be released.

Retailers in focus:Target (TGT) reported earnings and revenues above Wall Street's expectations, though it outlook fell short of forecasts. Shares were slightly higher.

Lowe's (LOW)(LOW) shares rose 2.5% after the home-improvement retailer posted a 47% jump in quarterly earnings.

Campbell Soup Co.(CPB)(CPB)(CPB) met adjusted earnings estimates on Wall Street, but fell short on its outlook for 2015. Chesapeake Energy Corp.(CHK) shares slid 3% after a profit miss.

Late Tuesday, First Solar Inc.(FSLR) reported that its profit nearly tripled in the fourth quarter. Shares were up nearly 3% in premarket.

Dollar Tree(DLTR) and Salesforce.com Inc.(CRM) are also due to report.

(CRM)Read more: Target, Dollar Tree, Salesforce.com earnings in focus (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/target-dollar-tree-salesforcecom-earnings-in-focus-2015-02-25)

(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/target-dollar-tree-salesforcecom-earnings-in-focus-2015-02-25)Shares of Southwest Airlines Co.(LUV) could draw attention, after the company said it pulled 125 jets out of service Tuesday (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/southwest-pulls-more-than-125-jets-out-of-service-over-missed-inspections-2015-02-25) --roughly one-fifth of its fleet -- over missed inspections.

Consumer Reports (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-just-in-the-press-adores-tesla-2015-02-24) named Tesla Motors Inc'.s(TSLA) Model S the top pick in 2015 for car buyers.

Also read: Apple shares may be ripe for a correction (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/apple-ripe-for-a-correction-2015-02-24)

(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/apple-ripe-for-a-correction-2015-02-24)Other markets: The view of a less-hawkish Federal Reserve helped push gold prices (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gold-retakes-1200-on-tailwinds-from-yellen-and-china-data-2015-02-25)(GCH5) past $1,200 an ounce. The dollar (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dollar-pulls-back-versus-yen-after-yellen-testimony-2015-02-25)(DXY) moved lower across major crosses, while WTI oil prices (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/oil-futures-keep-a-wary-eye-out-for-us-inventory-data-2015-02-25)(CLJ5) were edging higher ahead of U.S. inventory data due later.

European stocks also pulled back, taking a breather from their own record run on Tuesday. The Stoxx Europe 600 saw its highest close since October 2007. Hong Kong shares got a small lift (http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid) after an initial reading of China's manufacturing activity surprised to the upside.

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