Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:
1) Fear is Here
Markets are extremely fearful as oil prices fall off a cliff and Russia struggles to deal with a full-blown currency crisis. Until recently, the index had been stuck in neutral for weeks.
Despite all that, US stock futures were edging higher and European markets reversed early losses to trade with small gains. Nearly all Asian markets closed with losses.
2) Oil Keeps Falling
Crude prices in the US are continuing to fall, with oil futures declining by about 3% overnight to trade near $54 per barrel.
The latest dip is being blamed on China, where new data from HSBC shows sentiment among key managers in the manufacturing sector dipped to a seven-month low in December. This data raises red flags about economic growth and demand for oil in the world's biggest importer.
The unexpectedly sharp fall in prices this year -- down by more than 45% since June -- is wreaking havoc on many oil-producing nations and creating unexpected knock-on effects around the world.
3) Panic in Russia
The Russian currency continues to fall Tuesday despite a shock overnight rise in interest rates to 17% from 10.5%. The ruble has fallen by roughly 50% versus the US dollar since the start of the year.
Russia, which relies heavily on its energy sector, is getting hurt by falling oil prices and tit-for-tat sanctions with various Western nations.
"The unease in Russia was a factor in causing nervous trade in many markets on Monday," said Simon Smith, a chief economist at FxPro in London.
4) Earnings and Economics
Darden Restaurants (DRI), the owner of chains like the Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, will report earnings before the opening bell.
The US government will release monthly data on housing starts and building permits at 8:30am ET.
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