Wall Street eyes choppy trade at quarter end

Wall Street eyes choppy trade at quarter end

U.S. stock index futures indicated a lower open Tuesday, on the final day of the first quarter ahead of a number of key data releases.

The latest consumer confidence reading will be released by the Conference Board at 10.00 a.m. ET and is expected to show a modest up-tick in sentiment in March.

Read More Quarter ends, but volatility will not

While the indicator seems bound to remain below January's post-crisis high, it should be consistent with a decent spending mood among U.S. consumers. The Chicago PMI for March will also be released at 09:45 a.m. ET.

Case-Shiller house price indices for January showed an increase from last year .

This quarter's dramatic movers were the dollar and oil. The strength of the dollar and falling oil prices hit corporate profits in the first quarter and created an earnings recession, with the first profit decline in six years.

Read More Profit recession: This is what you need to know

Oil futures extended losses Tuesday, as Iran and six world powers negotiated over a deal that could ease sanctions and allow more Iranian crude onto world markets.

Brent oil was about $1 lower under $55 a barrel, while U.S. crude was down over 90 cents at $47.75 a barrel just before the market open in the United States.

Richmond Federal Reserve President Jeffrey Lacker said on Tuesday that there is a strong case for an increase in the fed funds rate relatively soon.

European equities hit session lows Tuesday , as investors reacted to fresh economic data from the euro zone and booked some profits after a stellar rally in the previous session.

Comcast (CCV)-The NBCUniversal parent is establishing a new company that will focus on investing and operating growth-oriented companies, to be led by current Chief Financial Officer Michael Angelakis. Comcast will immediately begin a search for a new CFO. (DISCLOSURE:NBCUniversal is the parent of CNBC.)

IBM (IBM) will invest $3 billion in a unit centered around the "internet of things." The unit's first partnership is with Weather Channel parent Weather Co., which will move its data services into the IBM "cloud."

Starbucks (SBUX) debuts a new line of smoothies at some of its U.S. shops, as part of a partnership with France's Danone, maker of the Dannon yogurt brand.

Herbalife (HLF) - Investor Bill Ackman said shutting down the nutritional supplements maker is "one of the most importing things" he can do. Ackman made his comments at a meeting of the Council of Institution Investors, speaking about his massive short bet against Herbalife that began in December 2012 and his claims that Herbalife is a pyramid scheme.

Read More Early movers: MRH, JCI, DHI, PHG, TEVA, CVC & more

Amazon.com (AMZN) - Online fashion retailer Net-a-Porter will be combined with Italian online clothing company Yoox in a deal that creates a company with annual revenue of more than $1.3 billion. Forbes had reported last week that Amazon was in talks to buy Net-a-Porter.

-CNBC's Peter Schacknow contributed to this report.



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