NEW YORK (CNNfn) - The task of keeping American gasoline tanks full will pump up Wall Street's attention Tuesday as investors watch the start of an OPEC meeting on oil production in Vienna, Austria.
Despite the prospect of rising oil prices, early signs pointed to initial gains for U.S. markets. The Nasdaq-100 futures rose moderately, pointing to an opening advance for the Nasdaq market. Standard & Poor's futures were little changed, indicating a flat start for the S&P 500 and Dow Jones industrial average.
OPEC ministers pledged not to let the loss of about 2.1 million barrels a day disrupt the market, though they made no specific pledges to boost supply. Prices have stayed in the cartel's target range of $22 to $28 and inventories have been perceived as adequate.
Americans have seen gasoline prices jump since the start of 2001. Some economists -- including Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan -- have expressed concern that higher energy costs could crimp the U.S. economy as it struggles to recover from its recent slowdown.
Brent oil futures fell 5 cents to $28 a barrel in London Tuesday. Light sweet crude oil futures closed 20 cents higher Monday in New York, at $28.13.
The Dow Jones industrial average begins the session above the 11,000 mark, at 11,061.52, after Monday's 71-point gain. The Nasdaq composite index edged higher and starts at 2,155.93, while the S&P 500 starts at
1,267.11 following a 6-point advance. The modest U.S. advances came one one of the lightest trading days of the year.
Asian markets finished mixed Wednesday, with Tokyo losing ground and Hong Kong advancing. European stocks began their day little changed amid anxiety about the OPEC meeting.
Treasury prices fell early Tuesday, boosting yields. The 10-year note yield rose to 5.35 percent from 5.33 percent late Monday, while the 30-year bond yield increased to 5.70 percent from 5.68 percent.
The dollar gained slightly against both the yen and euro.
A broad decline is expected when revised first-quarter productivity figures are reported before trading begins. The consensus of economists surveyed by Briefing.com is a 0.7 percent drop, sharper than the 0.1 percent dip initially reported.
Also due Tuesday morning is the April report on factory orders. Given recent indications of a slump in manufacturing, it's not surprising that the Briefing.com consensus is a 2.7 percent decline, compared with a 1.4 percent gain in March.
Two high-profile companies put their cases before analysts Tuesday. In Atlanta, Lucent Technologies (LU: Research, Estimates) gives its view of the telecom industry in the wake of last week's breakdown of merger talks with French rival Alcatel. Lucent shares closed Monday at $8, up 1 cent.
In Seattle, online retailer Amazon.com (AMZN: Research, Estimates) will likely face the persistent question about profitability, now seen as occurring on an operating basis by the fourth quarter of this year. Amazon shares finished Monday at $16.91, down 4 cents.
Bank operator FleetBoston Financial (FBF: Research, Estimates) agreed late Monday to acquire the asset management unit of Liberty Financial in a cash deal valued at $900 million plus the assumption of $110 million in debt.
After the close, supermarket operator Albertson's (ABS: Research, Estimates) is set to post results for its fiscal first quarter. Earnings are expected to have declined to 45 cents a share from 53 cents a year earlier, according to the consensus of analysts surveyed by Briefing.com. Albertson's shares closed Monday at $27.90, down 58 cents. 
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