A dull end to the week is in store, with the main benchmarks tipped to open lower.
The S&P 500 is trading at around 2,180 on spread betting platforms, some seven points down from last night’s close.
The Dow Jones average is being quoted at 18,542, down 56 points from last night’s close.
European markets are providing no encouragement with the Footsie in London and the Dax in Frankfurt both drifting lower.
The oil price has found reverse gear again with West Texas sweet light crude down 0.4% at US$48.05 a barrel, although the European benchmark, Brent crude for October delivery, has kept its head above the $50 mark at US$50.54 a barrel, down 35 cents.
There is not much point looking to the gold bullion market for profits, either, as the price of the December futures contract for the yellow metal was off 0.9% at US$1,344.70 an ounce.
On the corporate news front Estée Lauder Companies Inc (NYSE:EL) disappointed the market with its outlook for the new business year.
The cosmetics company was off 2.8% in pre-market trading.