-Dow Industrial futures up 68 points.

-S&P 500 futures up 8 points.

-Nasdaq 100 futures up 14 points.

-Nasdaq-100 Pre-Market Indicator up 8.03 at 1775.46.

GLOBAL SENTIMENT

Nikkei up 2.4%

Hang Seng up 1.3%

FTSE-100 up 1.7%

PRE-MARKET SECTOR WATCH

(+) Large cap tech: firmer

(+) Chip stocks: firmer

(+,-) Drug stocks: mixed

(+) Software stocks: firmer

(+) Internet stocks: firmer

(+) Financial stocks: firmer

(-,+) Auto stocks: mixed

(-,+) Airline stocks: mixed

(+) Retail stocks: firmer

UPSIDE MOVERS

(+) AIG (+5.9%) closes transaction with New York Fed, cutting debt.

(+) GES (+9.5%) beats with Q3, guides for Q4 above Street.

(+) SPLS (+2.9%) beats with Q3.

(+) GE (+1.4%) reportedly strikes deal with Vivendi for NBC Universal stake.

(+) PFE (flat) inks deal with Protalix (PLX) on taliglucerase. PLX down 8.2%.

(+) CPST (+5.5) inks European deal.

(+) MDCO (+2%) gets European approval for Angiox.

(+) ANX (+22%) reports positive study data for ANX-514 and Taxotere.

(+) CTDC (+9.3%) secures pact with Russian energy group.

DOWNSIDE MOVERS

(-) NLST (-13.5%) down as Inphi files patent suit against company.

(-) AHR (-38.2%) defaults on unsecured debt payment.

MARKET DIRECTION

Stocks are expected higher at today's bell, a firmer start a new month after closing out November with strong 5%-6% gains. Analyst notes say the Dubai debt situation may be contained to the region and not spread throughout global financial markets, reports that look to soothe Wall Street Tuesday.

Asian stocks gained as Japanese exporters firmed and the Bank of Japan surprised financial markets with additional monetary easing steps. Europe also trades higher.

December gold traded near $1,200 an ounce, carving out fresh records. Gold futures gained 0.6% on Monday, padding one of the best months in 10 years. Oil is nearing $78 a barrel as traders keep tabs on Iran tension.

Tuesday's data calendar features the Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing index for November, due at 10 a.m. ET. At the same time, construction spending figures for October will hit. Automotive sales in November are due Tuesday afternoon.

News of a tentative deal between GE and Vivendi that opens the way for NBC Universal to be sold to Comcast helped support broader market gains.

American International Group (AIG) is an active morning gainer after it has closed two previously announced transactions with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRBNY) that have reduced the debt AIG owes the FRBNY by $25 billion in exchange for the FRBNY's acquisition of preferred equity interests in certain newly formed subsidiaries. As of today, including the $25 billion debt reduction, AIG's outstanding principal balance under the FRBNY credit facility is approximately $17 billion, down from approximately $42 billion, excluding interest and fees. As a result of these transactions, the total amount available under the facility has been reduced from $60 billion to $35 billion.

Guess (GES) was an evening gainer and is up early Tuesday after topping the Street view with Q4 guidance.

Staples (SPLS) reports Q3 adjusted EPS of $0.39 vs $0.42 a year earlier, but just topping the Thomson Reuters mean analyst estimate for $0.38. Sales fell 6% to $6.5 billion. The Street looked for $6.45 billion.

For Q4, the company expects total company sales to increase between 1%-3% in U.S. dollars, or to decrease in the low single-digits in local currency, compared to the same period of 2008. Adjusted EPS are expected in the range of $0.36 to $0.38. The Street is at $0.37 on $6.1 bilion in sales.