U.S. stock-index futures point to lower open

LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock-index futures early Monday were suggesting a lower open, as conflict intensified in Iraq, sending oil prices higher. With just over 12 hours to go before the New York open, futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) were down 0.3%, as were those for the Nasdaq 100, while futures for the S&P 500 (SPX) were quoted 0.4% lower. Nymex July crude-oil futures (CLN4) were up 0.4% as reports said the U.S. and Iran may cooperate to ease fighting in Iraq. Asian stocks were mostly lower, with Tokyo's Nikkei Average (JP:NIK) down 1.1% in early afternoon trade, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index (HK:HSI) down 0.1% at the midday break.