Stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Wall Street on Friday following the previous session's strong gains, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.24 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.19 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.15 percent at 0944 GMT.

Oil held at around $75 as investor confidence in China's growth eclipsed data showing weaker-than-expected industrial output for the country in May.

Japan's Nikkei <.N225> climbed 1.7 percent, while European stocks were up 0.9 percent in morning trade, with BP rebounding 7 percent as investors welcomed support from British politicians for the oil giant, eclipsing news that U.S. government scientists have doubled their estimate of the amount of oil gushing out of the ruptured well.

The euro was supported on Friday on the back of higher stocks, but the single currency struggled to extend its short-covering rally versus the dollar ahead of technical resistance, while options barriers also capped gains.

Wendy's Arby's Group Inc shares jumped 10.8 percent to $4.81 in extended trading on Thursday after investor Nelson Peltz said he received an oral inquiry from a third party expressing interest on a preliminary basis in a potential acquisition involving the company. Shares of the company traded in Frankfurt were up 13 percent.

Dell Inc will be in the spotlight after saying late on Thursday it is in talks to settle a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into its accounting practices and its relationship with chipmaker Intel Corp , and said it has established a $100 million reserve for a potential settlement. Dell shares traded in Frankfurt were down 0.9 percent.

National Semiconductor Corp delivered a margin and revenue forecast above Wall Street estimates, signaling that demand is bouncing back after an horrendous 2009 for the microchip industry. Stock in the company rose 2 percent in extended trade on Thursday.

On the macro side, the Commerce Dept is due to release the May retail sales, at 1230 GMT, while the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers release June preliminary consumer sentiment index, at 1355 GMT, and the Commerce Department issues Business Inventories for April, at 1400 GMT.

U.S. stocks posted their best day in the last nine on Thursday in response to signs of health in the euro debt market and as investors snapped up energy shares crushed in the previous day's sell-off.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> jumped 273.28 points, or 2.76 percent, to 10,172.53. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 31.15 points, or 2.95 percent, to 1,086.84. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 59.86 points, or 2.77 percent, to 2,218.71.

(Reporting by Blaise Robinson; Editing by Mike Nesbit)

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