Suspense over Europe weighs markets North American markets quivered in uncertainty, waiting for positive signs out of talks out of Europe about the current debt crisis.
The Canadian dollar traded at 97.20 U.S. cents.
Dow futures inched up two points to 12,311, two hours before the opening bell. S&P futures faded 3.5 points, or 0.3%, to 1,274.80, and Nasdaq futures surged 14.5 points, or 0.6%, to 2,358.
European stocks dipped into the red as the leaders of France and Germany met to discuss ways to strengthen the euro-zone.
The FTSE 100 dipped 0.2%, the CAC 40 was close to flat, and Germany's DAX inched 0.3% lower. Investors preferred the safety of German government debt -- Monday marked the first ever negative auction yield on six-month German government debt, with people paying 0.0122% to lend money to Europe's largest economy.
Along with ways to boost employment and growth in the euro-zone, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy may also talk about a financial transaction tax, which Britain opposes.
Germany's economy keeps showing it can withstand the crisis, with a rise in exports reported on Monday and the labour market thriving. But employment is a pressing issue for Sarkozy, who faces an election in less than four months, with French jobless claims at their highest level in 12 years.
The euro recovered some ground, trading 0.8% higher at $1.2780 (U.S.).
Monday's meeting comes ahead of new Italian Premier Mario Monti's first visit to Berlin Wednesday. Italian 10-year paper yielded around 7.13%, firmly above the 7% level widely seen as unsustainable. Spanish equivalent bonds were at 5.74%.
Chinese shares surged 1.5% after Premier Wen Jiabao promised to channel lending to entrepreneurs who have been battered by weak global demand. Japan markets had the day off.
Gold steadied, trading at $1,620.10 U.S. an ounce.
Copper slipped around 0.5% to $7,540 U.S. a tonne.
Crude declined 0.4 per cent to $101.13 U.S. a barrel