Stock Futures Trade in Narrow Range

By Stephen Bernard

NEW YORK -- Stock futures traded in a narrow range Monday morning as investors brace for a crush of earnings reports, including key readings from the banking sector, this week.

Overseas, Asian markets tumbled Monday, but European stocks posted modest midday gains.

Investors are cautious as they prepare for a spate of earnings reports throughout the week, including from some of the nation's largest financial firms. Banks have been among the hardest hit companies since the recession began in late 2007 as investment and loan losses piled up.

The nation's largest banks -- Goldman Sachs (GS Quote), JPMorgan Chase(JPM Quote), Bank of America (BAC Quote) and Citigroup (C Quote) -- are all scheduled to report second-quarter results this week.

Commercial finance lender CIT Group (CIT Quote) said late Sunday it is talking with regulators about ways to improve its short-term liquidity as recent losses may jeopardize its compliance with capital requirements.

Ahead of the opening bell, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures fell 2, or 0.02%, at 8,083. S&P 500 index futures rose 0.30, or 0.03%, at 874.60, while Nasdaq 100 index futures dropped 3, or 0.2%, at 1,413.

A host of economic data during the week will also provide some insight into the economy. Investors will get readings on inflation, retail sales, industrial production and housing starts throughout the week.