Traders often avoid making big bets just before earnings releases since they provide a clear picture of how a company is performing. Outlooks for future growth will also be closely scrutinized.
A report on wholesale inventories due out Friday will provide one of the last clues about the health of the economy before companies start releasing results. It is expected to show inventories increased.
Dow Jones industrial average futures are down 11, or 0.1 percent, at 10,081. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures are down 0.20, or less than 0.1 percent, at 1,066.80, while Nasdaq 100 index futures are down 2.75, or 0.2 percent, at 1,795.25.
