U.S. stock futures on Monday pointed to a higher open, as investors prepared for the start of earnings season and scratched their heads over the second U.S. presidential debate.
S&P 500 futures rose by 6.75 points, or 0.3%, to 2,153.25, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gained 50 points, or 0.3%, to 18,207. Nasdaq-100 futures tacked on 14 points, or 0.3%, to 4,873.
"Last night's U.S. presidential debate might not have provided the electorate with the substantive direction it was looking for, but in terms of financial markets it seems like another nod for Mrs. Clinton," said Paul Webb, CEO of ADS Securities London, in a note.
"The dollar sold off against the Mexican peso and as it stands right now, Wall Street is eyeing some modest gains at the open, too," Webb added.
Last week, the S&P 500 lost 0.7%, while the Dow shed 0.4%, as each index snapped a three-week winning streak.
Other markets: The Mexican peso advanced against the dollar on Monday, with analysts saying the move signaled a belief that Donald Trump's chances of becoming president had fallen after a tumultuous weekend in which a 2005 video surfaced. In the video, Trump boasted of groping women and his sexual conquests, including pursuing a married woman.
Oil futures lost ground, while gold futures advanced. European stocks were mixed, while Asian markets mostly gained, though both Japan and Hong Kong were closed for a holiday. A key dollar index was edging higher.
Corporate news: Third-quarter earnings season gets its unofficial start this week, with Alcoa Inc.(AA) due to report on Tuesday. The iconic aluminum maker is presenting its last quarterly earnings report as a single company, as it plan to split in two on Nov. 1.
Overall, a year-plus earnings recession could end, though a decline in buybacks and profit warnings pose a challenge to that outcome.