Stock futures climb amid pledge to balance trade

[October 25, 2010]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Stock futures are rising after world finance leaders have pledged to better balance global trade in an effort to help drive economic expansion.

But with no concrete plans in place to avoid a currency war in the future, the dollar resumed its fall Monday. That is giving stocks and commodities a lift.

Global finance ministers met over the weekend and agreed to avoid competitive devaluations of their currencies. There has been growing concerns that countries would artificially drive the value of their currencies lower.

Dow Jones industrial average futures are up 66, or 0.6 percent, at 11,156. S&P 500 futures are up 9, or 0.7 percent, at 1,189.40, while Nasdaq 100 futures are up 11, or 0.5 percent, at 2,115.

[Associated Press; By STEPHEN BERNARD]

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