Futures Point to Declines as New Trading Week Begins

Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley (MS Quote) may buy regional banks to expand its retail banking footprint after becoming a bank holding company in September, according to a Journal report.

Looking at the day's economic data, the Census Bureau's October construction spending figures are due out, as is a read on November manufacturing from the Institute for Supply Management.

In the realm of commodities, crude oil for January delivery was down $3 to $51.43 a barrel. On Saturday, OPEC said it will forgo new reductions in output but did not rule out a supply cutback going forward. Gold was down $27 to $792 an ounce.

Longer-dated U.S. Treasury securities were rising in price. The 10-year note was gaining 16/32 to yield 2.87%, and the 30-year was up 1-14/32, yielding 3.37%. The dollar was rising vs. the euro and pound but falling against the yen.

Overseas, European exchanges such as the FTSE in London and the DAX in Frankfurt were trading lower. In Asia, Japan's Nikkei closed with losses, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended on the upside.