Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Monday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.84 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.57 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.55 percent at 0925 GMT (4:25 a.m. EST).

Investors were bracing for U.S. monthly retail sales data, due at 1330 GMT (8:30 a.m. EST), seeking clues on the outlook for consumer spending ahead of the key Christmas period. They will also keep an eye on New York Federal Reserve's Empire State manufacturing survey, also due at 1330 GMT (8:30 a.m. EST).

Boeing Co will be in focus after EADS posted a 77 percent drop in third-quarter core earnings, as it battled a downturn in civil aviation and the damaging effect of the weak dollar along with delays to its A400M program.

General Electric Co and Comcast Corp have agreed on the structure of the board for the proposed joint venture with NBC Universal, a person familiar with the matter said.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co said on Sunday it plans to split off its 83 percent stake in Mead Johnson Nutrition Company in a deal that lets Bristol shareholders exchange their shares for Mead Johnson common stock.

General Motors Co. will announce on Monday it plans to start repaying a $6.7 billion loan to the U.S. Treasury by year-end due to modest operating improvements, a source knowledgeable about the situation said.

The Oslo bourse suspended trade in Tandberg shares pending a statement, with all eyes on Cisco System's bid for the Norwegian maker of video conferencing equipment, which has received scant support.

The dollar slipped on Monday as traders took a lack of agreement on currencies among Asian and U.S. leaders as a cue to sell the greenback, even as speculation of a near-term yuan appreciation cooled.

Oil prices rose a dollar to above $77 a barrel, clawing back most of last week's 1.4 percent losses on a weaker U.S. dollar and improved sentiment over the economic outlook.

Gold prices hit a fresh record high above $1,130 an ounce on Monday and traders reported fund buying, with a weak dollar offering additional support.

On the earnings side, investors awaited results from Lowe's .

On the macro front, data showed Japan's economy grew 1.2 percent in the third quarter, nearly double the forecast and the fastest pace in more than two years.

Japan's Nikkei average <.N225> rose 0.2 percent on Monday, buoyed by retailers, while European shares were up 0.8 percent, flirting with a 13-month high, driven higher by commodities-related shares such as Rio Tinto and Xstrata .

U.S. stocks rose in light volume on Friday to achieve a second straight week of gains as upbeat retail news reinforced hopes for strong sales in the key holiday season.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> added 73.00 points, or 0.72 percent, to end at 0,270.47. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 6.24 points, or 0.57 percent, to 1,093.48. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> rose 18.86 points, or 0.88 percent, to close 2,167.88. For the week, the Dow rose 2.5 percent, while the S&P 500 advanced 2.3 percent, and the Nasdaq gained 2.6 percent.

(Reporting by Blaise Robinson; Editing by Hans Peters)

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