futures rise

* U.S. stock futures pointed to a higher opening on Wall
Street on Monday, tracking a rally in Asia and Europe as
investors applauded additional measures by governments to tackle
the global credit crisis and as investors awaited key corporate
results.

* By 0841 GMT, S&P 500 futures were up 2.9 percent,
Dow Jones futures up 2.4 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures
up 2.8 percent.

* European stocks were up 2.2 percent. European Central Bank
President Jean-Claude Trichet pledged to do whatever it takes to
restore confidence to financial markets, while the Dutch
government moved to shore up financial group ING .

* Asian shares also rallied after South Korea's announcement
of a package of rescue measures worth more than $130 billion,
including state guarantees on foreign debt and promises of
liquidity to steady up turbulent financial markets.

* Tech and telecom stocks will be in the spotlight after
telecom equipment maker Ericsson posted
stronger-than-expected third-quarter earnings on Monday, showing
no sign yet of damage from the financial turmoil roiling world
markets. Ericsson shares were up 19 percent.

* The U.S. focus will be on earnings as investors look for
more clues on the extent of the damage from the credit crisis on
the real economy. Results from American Express ,
Lockheed Martin , Texas Instruments , Halliburton
and Mattel are due on Monday.

* American Express, the fourth-largest U.S. card issuer, is
expected to post lower quarterly earnings, hammered by higher
bad-debt losses and a spike in funding costs.

* On the macro front, investors will keep an eye on leading
indicators for September.

* U.S. stocks fell on Friday on weakness in manufacturing
and financial stocks after bleak data on consumer confidence and
construction, but the Dow still snapped a disastrous three-week
losing streak with its best weekly gain in more than 5 years.

* When New York trading resumes, it will be the day after
the anniversary of the 1987 stock market crash. On Oct. 19 that
year, known as "Black Monday", the Dow fell a record 22.6
percent.