By Barbara Kollmeyer, MarketWatch

MADRID (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock futures pointed to a cautious start for Wall Street, with strategists eyeing key technical levels after major indexes last week suffered the worst weekly performance in more than two years.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJZ4) rose 6 points to 16,443, while those for the S&P 500 index (SPZ4) gained 1.6 points to 1,895.90. Futures for the Nasdaq-100 index (NDZ4) eased 4.5 points to 3,848.50.

Futures traded choppy, pulling back from bigger losses in Asian trading. Investors were expected to turn their attention to earnings season, which gets under way in earnest on Tuesday, with major banks such as J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.(JPM) and Citigroup Inc. (C) among those due to report.

"This is not a reversal in markets, but a pullback to important levels -- 2,900 on the Eurostoxx 50 and 1,900 on the S&P 500," said Christian Tegllund Blaabjerg, senior strategist at Danske Bank Markets. He said the S&P 500 (SPX) will probably retest that level either Monday or Tuesday.

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq-100 (RIXF) last week suffered their deepest weekly declines since May 2012, with major indexes all nearing or undercutting key support levels.

Earnings boost to come? Blaabjerg expects the earnings season to provide a boost for U.S. stocks. "In the U.S., EPS (earnings per share) growth expectations are 5% year-over-year, which should easily be beaten, providing equity markets with renewed hope after disappointing macro numbers," he said.

Europe's own EPS growth expectations of 7% won't be beaten, he said. Some worry that a strong U.S. dollar will pressure the corporate reporting season in the U.S.

Government offices will be closed on Monday in observance of the Columbus Day, with bond markets also closed. No data is on the calendar. Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer was among several Fed officials who spoke over the weekend. He said Saturday that an eventual rate rise from the central bank won't damage the global economy. Also: Fed's Evans: Stronger dollar is a headwind

Stocks to watch:

CSX Corp. (CSX) was up 7% in early premarket trading. Citing sources, The Wall Street Journal reported that Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. (CP) approached CSX about a tie-up. CSX rebuffed the overture, made in the past week, those sources said. It's unclear if Canadian Pacific will pursue it.

Shares of Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corp. (TKMR) , one of the pharmaceutical companies whose drug TKM-Ebola has been used in the fight against the deadly virus, was up 10% in early premarket action. Hazmat-suit maker Lakeland Industries Inc. (LAKE) was looking at similar gains, after a 126% jump last week on fears related to the Ebola virus.

Shares of Dave & Buster's Entertainment Inc. (PLAY) could see more gains Monday after a strong debut on Friday.

Compuware Corp. (CPWR) may attract attention on news it will spin off all its interest in Covisint Corp. (COVS) to shareholders.

U.S. infection-prevention company Steris (STE) said it's buying U.K. rival Synergy Health for $1.9 billion in cash and stock.

See more potentially moving stocks in Movers and Shakers

Other markets: European stocks traded mostly flat, while Hong Kong stocks ( closed higher after strong Chinese trade data. Asian stocks finished mostly lower. Gains for gold (GCZ4) were pared as stock futures inched up, while recent losses for crude oil (CLX4) were extended.

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