U.S. stock index futures rise; eyes on earnings
* 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 SPc1 were up 2.9 percent, Dow Jones futures DJc1 up 2.4 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures NDc1 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 (ING.AS).
* 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 (ERICb.ST) 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 (AXP.N), Lockheed Martin (LMT.N), Texas Instruments (TXN.N), Halliburton (HAL.N) and Mattel MAT.N 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. (Reporting by Blaise Robinson; Editing by Quentin Bryar)
