Stock futures rise slightly, point to higher open

[April 20, 2010]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Stock futures inched higher Monday after concerns about Greece's debt problems eased further over the weekend.

Investors looking for signs of domestic growth will get plenty of data to sort through this week, including the start of earnings season.

Over the weekend, European leaders agreed to make loans available to Greece to help the country ease its debt burden. The 16 countries that use the euro agreed to provide 30 billion euro ($40.49 billion) in loans to Greece if the country asks for money. The International Monetary Fund would contribute another 10 billion euro ($13.5 billion) if needed.

The loans would carry interest rates below what private lenders had been demanding in recent days to hold Greek debt.

The details help calm ongoing worries that have been one of the few drags on stocks. There has been concerns in recent months that mounting debt in Greece and other European nations like Spain and Portugal would stunt an economic recovery in Europe.

Major indexes rose globally following the bailout deal. The euro rose against the dollar as the Greek debt worries eased.

Ahead of the opening bell, Dow Jones industrial average futures rose 8, or 0.1 percent, to 10,961. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures rose 0.40, or less than 0.1 percent, to 1,193.00, while Nasdaq 100 index futures rose 1.00, or 0.1 percent, to 1,993.00.

The Dow is coming off its sixth straight weekly gain and is at its highest level in 18 months. The Dow climbed above 11,000 for the first time since September 2008 in the final moments of trading Friday before ending the session just below that threshold.

Earnings will be a primary focus throughout the week for investors who will be looking for fresh signs of economic growth. Dow component Alcoa Inc. kicks of earnings season after the market closes Monday. Intel Corp., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp., Google Inc. and General Electric Co. all also report earnings this week.

Reports on inflation, retail sales, manufacturing and housing will be released throughout the week as well. Stocks have been rising steadily in recent months as reports show steady but slow economic growth.

Bond prices fell Monday. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, rose to 3.91 percent from 3.88 percent late Friday.

The dollar fell against other major currencies, while gold and oil rose slightly.

Overseas, Britain's FTSE 100 rose 1.1 percent, Germany's DAX index gained 0.1 percent, and France's CAC-40 rose less than 0.1 percent. Japan's Nikkei stock average rose 0.4 percent.

[Associated Press; By STEPHEN BERNARD]

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