With four more trading days left this year, some investors will be back after the holiday, ready to adjust final positions, others may have taken the rest of the week/year off and trading could be light. Stock futures are somewhat higher this morning, indicating a similar start for U.S. markets. The focus this morning seems to be on retail and holiday sales results, but surprisingly enough, there is also some deal news.

On the shortened trading day Monday, stocks fared well with the Dow industrials ending up 98 points, or 0.78%, the S&P 500 adding nearly 12 points, or 0.81%, and the Nasdaq composite rising 21 points, or 0.8%.

There only economic indicator reported today is the Standard & Poor's Case-Shiller index of single-family home prices, due out just before the market open.

The weekly crude inventories, normally released Wednesday, will be released Thursday. Oil prices rose Wednesday ahead of the report with traders expecting a new decline in its oil inventories to 1.2 million barrels of crude oil supplies due to a decline in imports.

Overseas, Asian stocks finished mostly higher. European stocks are also higher. Several markets are closed today for Boxing Day.

As I mentioned, though, the focus this morning is on retail sales and retailers following several reports:

A survey released Monday by ShopperTrak said that weekend sales jumped 18.7% over a year ago, but data released from MasterCard SpendingPulse showed that the eleventh-hour shopping spree may not have been enough to make up for a weak month. Sales for the season - excluding gas and auto sales - increased only 2.4% over last year, below what many experts projected.

At the same time, Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) warned on Monday that December same-store sales were running well below its previous forecast and may actually decline 1%.

On the other hand, in an interview to the WSJ, Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) CEO said his company has had "pretty good" holiday sales and has kept inventories under control to avoid markdowns.

As for the promised deal news, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.B) announced Tuesday it will pay $4.5 billion for 60% of Marmon Holdings Inc., a private company owned by the Pritzker family, and plans to acquire the remaining 40% over the next 5-6 years.