Stock-index futures are pointing to more selling at the opening on Monday after a marked degree of volatility in the early going, driven by fears that sent stocks reeling last week remain at the surface, especially uncertainty about the impact that problems in high-risk U.S. mortgages and corporate debt markets would have on markets overall. After U.S. stocks posted their worst week in five years, the "main fear is that ongoing weakness in housing and subprime lending will put the boots to the overall economy, the squeeze on general credit, and the kibosh on leveraged takeovers," BMO Capital Markets points out. "The fact that the market failed to achieve even a dead-cat bounce on Friday after Thursday's horrendous tumble - quite the contrary as panic selling set in near the close - spoke volumes about how dismal investor sentiment is." BMO figures the market expects a "further wild ride ahead, according to [a measure]of future stock volatility, which is at a 13-month peak." Monday's trading day initially got off to a good start in overseas markets, as Asian stock indexes finished the session mostly higher. But in another sign of tightening liquidity, China's central bank raised its reserve requirement for banks for the ninth time in 13 months. European stocks also rose in early trading, but then turned lower at midday, as merger activity and stronger company results battled with persistent concerns over interest rates and credit markets. In corporate news, Dutch bank ABN Amro adopted a neutral position on two rival takeover offers after withdrawing support for a bid from Britain's Barclays PLC. And the Bancroft family that controls Dow Jones & Co. is due to make a decision on a takeover bid by News Corp. by the end of Monday. Oil prices are down as traders took profits after crude futures settled near an all-time high on Friday, fuelled by a buying surge from large investment funds. Metals prices are largely steady but analysts suggest further price gains for copper could take time as some investors who have sold their commodity holdings to pay for losses in other markets may not return quickly, especially since there is a receding threat to supplies from strikes in many large producing countries.