Small-cap stocks edged lower in a fairly weak start to this week’s trading, pulled down by worries about corporate profits as we enter the unofficial start of earnings season this afternoon. Energy and commodity stocks were a source of worry early today as crude oil futures extended the recent slide. At 9:57 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 5.31, or 1.10%, at 475.99.

Crude oil prices tumbled more than $2 a barrel into the U.S. stock market opening, which could pull down energy stocks. The dollar was firm against the euro this morning, which could also weigh on other commodity markets and stocks with close ties to physical markets.

Tying together the commodity and profit themes, Alcoa Inc. (NYSE:AA) kicks off the earnings season after the close today. The firm already announced plans to slash 13,500 jobs and reduce output and will release quarterly results after the close today.

Overseas markets were lower coming into today’s session, which likely weighed on the market as well. In European and Asian trading, bank stocks and chipmakers were taking a hit. Here in the U.S., investors will watch progress on a deal between Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) and Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), in which Citigroup plans to sell its Smith Barney brokerage unit to raise cash.

The market did take a hit on Friday and the news so far today was soft, but not overly surprising, which could make it difficult to attract fresh selling, especially ahead of a raft of economic numbers later this week. There was an acquisition deal involving a small-cap firm this morning, and when deals get done, it often stokes bullish enthusiasm, especially in the small-cap arena.

Advanced Medical Optics Inc. (NYSE:EYE) will be purchased by Abbot Laboratories Inc. (NYSE:ABT) for $1.4 billion, which sparked a big rise in EYE shares on the opening. EYE was up 144% on the news.

Other small caps on the move this morning included Satyam Computer Sevices Ltd. (NYSE:SAY), which was down 90% as the NYSE finally opened up trading on the embattled Indian outsourcer and the U.S. markets caught up with the . . .

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