Stock futures point to mixed open

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks appear headed to a mixed opening Tuesday following a strong three-day rally.

A day with little change for stocks has been rare so far in March. The Dow Jones industrial average has swung by at least 100 points in four of the last five trading days. Fears about Japan's nuclear crisis and violence in Libya have driven the volatility.

Japanese stocks jumped higher on Tuesday, their first day of trading for the week after a holiday on Monday. The Nikkei 225 index rose 4.4 percent to 9,608.32. European stock markets, which open after those in Asia and before the U.S market, were mixed.

Crude oil prices, a major source of volatility for the market since …