Stock futures point to higher Wall Street open

[October 20, 2009]  NEW YORK (AP) -- The stock market is pointing to a higher open as more companies report higher third-quarter profits.

Chemical maker DuPont and health insurer UnitedHealth Group Inc. have already reported earnings gains Tuesday, each citing company cost-cutting efforts.

Caterpillar Inc. and Coca-Cola Co. are also slated to report results before the opening bell. Later in the day, Internet company Yahoo Inc. and student lender SLM Corp. are scheduled to release earnings.

Better-than-expected earnings reports from Apple Inc. and Texas Instruments Inc. late Monday helped restore investor confidence that was shaken late last week by big banks' loan losses.

Investors are also awaiting reports on inflation and housing from the Labor and Commerce departments.

Dow Jones industrial average futures are up 15, or 0.2 percent, at 10,026. Standard & Poor's 500 index futures are up 2.10, or 0.2 percent, at 1,093.20, while Nasdaq 100 index futures are up 12.25, or 0.7 percent, at 1,762.50.

[Associated Press; By IEVA M. AUGSTUMS]

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