Inventories, Budget Statement, Treasury Auction

Investors this morning await the first real data to be released this week. But wholesale trade inventories isn’t a major market mover, nor is the afternoon’s budget statement, so it could be a quiet day if investors prefer to postpone trading until retail sales figures hit the headlines on Friday.

One hour before the opening bell, the market is pretty flat. Dow futures are down 1 point at 10,563 and futures on the S&P 500 are up 0.00 points to 1,140.50

Meantime, WTI crude oil is up 31 cents to $81.80 per barrel, and Spot Gold is trading $5.15 higher at $1,127.00.

Earlier today the Mortgage Bankers Association said its index of mortgage application rose 0.5% in the first week of March, but it remains down 12.5% from last year.

Key Events Today:

10:00 â€