By Anora Mahmudova and Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch

Bullard says markets could have a new "tantrum"

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock futures pointed to a sluggish open on Monday after solid gains last week, with investors watching for comments from Federal Reserve members and waiting for the latest health check on the housing sector.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YMM5) fell 4 points to 18,029, while those for the S&P 500 (ESM5) dipped a point to 2,097. Futures for the Nasdaq-100 (NQM5) were off by a point to 4,446.

The stock market's volatile action last week was fueled by fresh comments from the Federal Reserve about raising interest rates. The central bank dropped its reference to being "patient", but also said it is in no hurry to tighten policy (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fed-takes-step-to-rate-hike-but-scales-back-intended-pace-2015-03-18). The Dow average (DJI) and S&P 500 index (SPX) posted their biggest weekly gains since early February, while the Nasdaq-100 index (RIXF) mustered its biggest rally since October last year.

Fed speakers: Monetary policy was in the spotlight, with St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard telling CNBC Monday that the dovish statement from last week may have misplaced investor expectations about the first rate hike. Bullard also said the market could throw another "tantrum" (http://www.cnbc.com/id/102525889) with the Fed possibly raising rates later this year.

Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester was speaking in Paris Monday morning. Mester, who isn't a voting member of the policy-setting committee this year, said the central bank can do more (http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2015/03/23/feds-mester-fed-needs-further-refinements-of-forward-guidance/?KEYWORDS=mester) at helping guide the market in terms of rate moves.

At 12:20 p.m. Eastern time, Fed Vice Chair Stanley Fischer gives a speech about "monetary policy lessons and the way ahead" to the Economic Club of New York, while San Francisco Fed President John Williams speaks in Sydney, Australia at 10 p.m. Eastern. Fisher and Williams are both voting members of the FOMC.

Economic data: Existing-home sales data are due at 10 a.m. Eastern. Economists polled by MarketWatch expect an annualized rate of 4.94 million home sales in February, up from 4.82 million in January, which was the lowest level in nine months (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/existing-home-sales-slow-to-9-month-low-in-january-2015-02-23).

Stocks to watch: Shares of Carnival Corp.(CCL) fell 2.3% ahead of the bell after Deutsche Bank cut the cruise-operator to hold from buy.

Tenet Healthcare Corp.(THC) gained 1.4% premarket on news the company is creating a $2.6 billion joint venture (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/tenet-healthcare-to-create-26-bln-joint-venture-with-united-surgical-2015-03-23) with United Surgical Partners International.

Gilead Sciences Inc.(GILD) dropped 2.7% after the drug maker on Friday warned health-care providers (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-21/gilead-warns-after-hepatitis-patient-on-heart-drug-dies) that nine patients taking its hepatitis C drugs Harvoni or Sovaldi along with the heart treatment amiodarone developed abnormally slow heart beats and one died of a heart attack, according to Bloomberg.

Shares of Kansas City Southern (KSU) dropped 2.3% in premarket trade Monday, after the railroad company lowered its 2015 sales growth outlook.

For more on notable movers read Movers & Shakers column (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/tenet-climbs-after-deal-news-carnival-slides-on-broker-downgrade-2015-03-23).

Other markets: Crude oil (CLK5) prices fell, paring back after scoring its first weekly gain in five weeks (http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid).

Metals were also mostly lower, although high-grade copper (HGK5) bucked the negative trend. The ICE dollar index (DXY) fell to 97.50.

Stock markets in Europe (http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid) declined, with investors waiting for the latest developments in Greece's reform negotiations. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is scheduled to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel later on Monday.

Asian markets closed mostly higher (http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid).

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