U.S. stock futures signal gains; eyes on pharmas

* U.S. stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher opening on Wall Street on Monday, with futures for the S&P 500 SPc1 up 0.13 percent, Dow Jones DJc1 futures up 0.1 percent and Nasdaq 100 NDc1 futures up 0.07 percent at 0845 GMT.

* The healthcare sector was expected to be in focus after a broad healthcare overhaul passed its first crucial test in the U.S. Senate on Monday, with 60 Democrats voting to put President Barack Obama's top legislative priority on a path to being passed by Christmas. [ID:nN21199371]

* Investors will keep an eye on Dubai, where debt-ridden conglomerate Dubai World [DBWLD.UL] is expected on Monday to ask key creditors for more time to pay off its loans. The Gulf Arab emirate's flagship company is expected to formalise a request for a payment standstill at a meeting with some 90 creditors. [ID:nLDE5BK00S]

* Japan's exports rose by the most in seven years in November as China led growth in demand from Asia, easing fears Japan will slipped into another recession next year. [ID:nLDE5BK02M]

* The dollar dipped against the euro on Monday but still hovered near its highest point in more than three months as currency players anticipated more short-covering in the greenback in a holiday-shortened week.

* Pfizer Inc (PFE.N), the world's biggest drugmaker, is buying the rights to a stem-cell therapy to treat inflammatory bowel disease from Athersys Inc (ATHX.O), the New York Times said on its website late on Sunday.

* Terex Corp (TEX.N), the world's third biggest maker of heavy earth-moving equipment, is to sell its mining business for $1.3 billion cash to mining equipment maker Bucyrus International Inc BUCY.O, the companies said on Sunday. [ID:nN20200814]

* French group Safran (SAF.PA) and General Electric (GE.N) have won a multi-billion dollar deal to provide the powerplant for China's new C919 plane, Safran said on Monday. [ID:nLDE5BK02N]

* Japan's Nikkei average .N225 rose 0.4 percent to an eight-week closing high on Monday, boosted by gains in high-tech exporters, while European stocks were up 0.4 percent in morning trade, with banks such as HSBC (HSBA.L) bouncing back from Friday's selloff in the sector.

* U.S. stocks rose on Friday in choppy trade as quarterly results from Oracle (ORCL.O) and Research In Motion RESRQ.PK lifted the Nasdaq more than 1 percent, but the U.S. dollar's climb curbed gains in both the Dow and the S&P 500.

* The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI added 20.63 points, or 0.20 percent, to 10,328.89. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX gained 6.39 points, or 0.58 percent, to 1,102.47. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC climbed 31.64 points, or 1.45 percent, to 2,211.69. (Reporting by Blaise Robinson; Editing by Greg Mahlich)