(By Balachander) U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on the Wall Street weighed by reports of bailout plan for Spain's troubled banks.
Mini Dow Industrial Average futures gained 54.00 points to 12,557.00. The Nasdaq Futures added 10.75 points to 2,567.75. Standard and Poor's 500 futures advanced 5.50 points to 1,327.50.
On Saturday, euro zone finance ministers agreed to offer up to 100 billion euros ($125 billion) in loans for Spain's bank rescue fund.
On Friday, U.S. stocks closed in green amid reports that Spain may ask for aid from the European Union for recapitalizing its ailing banks.
No major U.S. economic data is scheduled for Monday.
Hot Stocks Of The Day: FRX, CNC, NAV, INMD, NOIZ
In corporate news, Forest Laboratories Inc. (NYSE:FRX) retreated 4.74 in premarket citing evolving conditions in the Lexapro/escitalopram market. The company now expects 2013 non-GAAP EPS between $0.95 to $1.10 from prior forecast of $1.20 to $1.35.
Health insurer Centene Corp (NYSE: CNC) plunged 26.70 percent in premarket after the health insurer forecast a loss in the second quarter and reduced its earnings guidance blaming higher costs and claims in Texas and Kentucky.
Navistar International Corp. (NYSE:NAV) added 6.24 percent in premarket. Financial Times Deutschland reported that European carmaker Volkswagen may acquire a stake in the truck maker.
IntegraMed America Inc. (NASDAQ:INMD) soared 21.69 percent in premarket after the healthcare services company agreed to be bought by Sagard Capital Partners for $169.5 million. Sagard's offer of $14.05 per share represents a 24 percent premium to the stock's previous close.
Micronetics Inc. (NASDAQ:NOIZ) almost doubled its value in premarket after the maker of microwave and radio frequency (RF) components agreed to be bought by Mercury Computer Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:MRCY) for $14.80 per share. The deal represents a 97.6 percent premium to Micronetics' Friday close of $7.49.
Global Markets:
European markets rose, with Germany's DAX rallying 1.53 percent trading at 6,224.34. France's CAC40 advanced 1.16 percent to 3,087.02. The U.K. FTSE 100 rose 0.57 percent to trade at 5,466.32.
Among Asian markets, the Shanghai Composite Index rose 1.04 percent to end at 2,305.15. Hong Kong's Hang Seng jumped 2.44 percent to close at 18,953.63. Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 1.96 percent to close at 8,624.90. India's BSE Sensex finished at 16,668.01, down 0.30 percent.
Market Scan:
Ahead of the opening bell, crude oil futures rose 1.05 percent to $84.980 per barrel. Gold futures edged up 0.18 percent to $1,594.3 per ounce.
In the currency market, the euro traded 0.25 percent higher against the U.S. dollar at 1.2548, and the British pound rose 0.41 percent against the greenback to 1.5536. The dollar inched 0.01 percent higher against the Japanese yen to 79.4900.