Stock futures rise after strong retail sales

[May 10, 2011]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks are headed to a higher open after holiday shoppers gave retailers a weekend of strong sales and Ireland agreed to a nearly $90 billion bailout package.

The National Retail Federation trade group has estimated that 212 million shoppers visited stores and websites during the first weekend of the holiday season, up from 195 million last year.

Meanwhile, the European Union agreed to give about $90 billion in bailout loans to Ireland. European stocks fell on the news, and the euro hit a fresh two-month low.

Dow Jones industrial average futures are up 27, or 0.2 percent, at 11,056. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures are up 3, or 0.3 percent, at 1,186. Nasdaq 100 index futures are up 1.5, or 0.1 percent, at 2,147.

[Associated Press; By CHIP CUTTER]

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