-Dow Industrial futures down 85 points.

-S&P 500 futures down 4 points.

-Nasdaq 100 futures down 4.75 points.

-Nasdaq-100 Pre-Market Indicator down 3.85 at 1669.06.

GLOBAL SENTIMENT

Nikkei down 2.3%

Hang Seng down 1.8%

FTSE-100 down 1.7%

PRE-MARKET SECTOR WATCH

(-) Large cap tech: mostly lower

(-) Chip stocks: mostly lower

(+,-) Drug stocks: mixed

(-) Software stocks: lower

(-) Internet stocks: lower

(-) Financial stocks: lower

(+,-) Auto stocks: mixed

(-,+) Airline stocks: mixed

(-,+) Retail stocks: mixed

DOWNSIDE MOVERS

(-) RBS (-9%) will stay on government plan on altered terms.

(-) UBS (-6.6%) swings to loss.

(-) INTC (-1.9%) among semiconductor shares falling after sector downgraded at Morgan Stanley.

(-) RCL (-3.6%) guides for FY EPS below Street view.

(-) TNS (-8.3%) guides for FY sales miss.

(-) DBD (-1.3%) misses with Q3.

UPSIDE MOVERS

(+) BNI (+29%) sold to Berkshire Hathaway.

(+) HLF (+6.8%) beats Q3 estimates and guides for Q4 beat.

(+) LYG (+2.9%) raising own funds to avoid gov't asset protection plan.

(+) JNJ (+1.4%) cutting jobs.

(+) LJPC (+71%) fails to get necessary votes to dissolve co.

(+) MA (+0.9%) beats with Q3.

(+) HL (+4%) beats with Q3.

(+) DDRX (+25%) sold to Peet's.

MARKET DIRECTION

U.S. stock futures continue to point to a sharply lower open Tuesday. An Australian interest-rate hike is seen as a sign of more tightening to come around the globe, the timing of which will be crucial in keeping the recovery on track. European banking declines weighed on markets there and are likely to pressure their U.S. counterparts. Some shares have improved. Rail deal news was a supportive factor.

The DJIA clawed back from a triple-digit deficit in Monday's session and all major averages ended a volatile session in the green.

The Reserve Bank of Australia hiked rates for a second time in two months, putting its target at 3.5%, a move that was in line with economist expectations. The central bank also hinted of further rate hikes in the future.

The U.S. Federal Open Market Committee begins its two-day monetary policy meeting today and will have its announcement Wednesday afternoon.