U.S. Futures Mixed Amid Investor Caution

The dollar fell against other major currencies after jumping Monday. Gold prices rose.

The ease in the dollar helped push oil prices higher. Light, sweet crude rose $1.48 to $72.10 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Bond prices were mixed. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, rose to 3.73% from 3.72% late Monday. The yield on the three-month T-bill, considered one of the safest investments, was flat at 0.15% from Monday.

Overseas, Japan's Nikkei stock average slid 2.9%. In afternoon trading, Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.5%, Germany's DAX index rose 0.1%, and France's CAC-40 rose 0.2%.