* Holiday shopping better-than-expected, data shows
* Oil futures hit 4-wk high, topping $78/barrel
* Futures up: S&P 1.4 pts, Dow 4 pts, Nasdaq 4.25 pts
* For up-to-the-minute market news, click STXNEWS/US
(Writes through, adds quote, details)
By Leah Schnurr
NEW YORK, Dec 28 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures
indicated a flat to higher open on Monday with investors wary
of taking bets that could erode gains heading into year-end.
Retail stocks could see support after U.S. retailers posted
a better performance during the 2009 holiday shopping season,
with sales up 3.6 percent, as tracked by MasterCard Advisors
unit SpendingPulse. For details, see []
"It appears retailers were doing a fair bit of discounting
to bring in shoppers, so we'll see how that affects the bottom
line," said Andre Bakhos, president of Princeton Financial
Group in North Brunswick, New Jersey.
"In the end, (spending) is going to be a sign of the
economy and how the consumer is acting."
With the S&P 500 nearly 25 percent higher for the year,
investors are keen to hold on to profits. U.S. stocks rallied
in a shortened preholiday session Thursday, closing at 2009
highs. Markets were closed Friday for the Christmas holiday,
and Monday's volume will likely be light as many traders take
off the week between Christmas and New Year's.
S&P 500 futures <SPc1> rose 1.4 points and were above fair
value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account
interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the
contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures <DJc1> added 4
points, and the Nasdaq 100 futures <NDc1> gained 4.25 points.
The economic agenda is light, with the Dallas Fed
manufacturing survey for December expected at about 10:30 a.m.
EST (1530 GMT).
Airline stocks may be in the spotlight as the United States
tightened airline security amid growing questions about how a
Nigerian man with alleged ties to militants smuggled explosives
aboard a trans-Atlantic flight and attempted to blow up the
plane. []
Kraft Foods Inc <KFT.N> will be in focus as Italian
chocolate major Ferrero is still examining its options on a
possible bid for Britain's Cadbury PLC <CBRY.L>. The UK
confectioner has rejected a $16.2 billion offer from Kraft.
U.S.-based Hershey Co <HSY.N> and the family-owned Ferrero have
said they were contemplating bids.
European stocks rose for a fifth straight session on
Monday, adding to gains before the Christmas break, as an
overnight rally in Asian shares boosted sentiment, but volumes
were thin with London markets closed. []
Oil hit a four-week high, rising above $78 a barrel, as
colder weather across the U.S. and fresh signs of an economic
recovery helped boost the outlook for fuel demand.
(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
