* Ireland doesn't rule out need for aid
* Caterpillar to buy Bucyrus for $8.6 billion
* Futures up: Dow 28 pts, S&P 4.9 pts, Nasdaq 11.5 pts
* For up-to-the-minute market news see []
(Adds quote, details on Lowe's earnings, Caterpillar-Bucyrus
deal)
By Ryan Vlastelica
NEW YORK, Nov 15 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures rose
on Monday after a steep selloff in the previous session, helped
by M&A activity, though financial stress in Ireland threatened
to weigh on the market.
Ireland didn't rule out the possibility it may have to turn
to Europe for help in dealing with its debt crisis on Sunday
but said no application had been made for assistance yet. For
details, see []
Concerns over euro zone sovereign debt has pressured
equities in recent weeks along with persistent concerns that
China may raise interest rates. Offsetting that was
stronger-than-expected growth data from Japan for the July to
September period. []
"Markets, after the selloff last week, are in a
push-and-pull situation, with the stronger growth out of Japan
on one hand, but the persistent problems in Europe on the
other," said Oliver Pursche, president at Gary Goldberg
Financial Services in Suffern, New York.
Caterpillar Inc <CAT.N> agreed to buy mining equipment
maker Bucyrus International Inc <BUCY.O> for $8.6 billion,
sending Bucyrus' shares up 30 percent to $90.60 in premarket
trading. Caterpillar, a Dow component, slid 1.3 percent to $80.
[]
Separately, EMC Corp <EMC.N> agreed to buy Isilon Systems
Inc <ISLN.O>, the data storage company, for $2.25 billion.
[]
Economic indicators on tap later Monday include October
retail sales, which are seen rising 0.4 percent, the same as in
the previous month, along with September business inventory
data and the November Empire State survey. Inventories are seen
rising from the previous month, while the N.Y. survey is seen
coming in at 14, down from last month's 15.73.
Pursche said investors were awaiting the retail data for
direction, adding that while he was optimistic about the
report, he was still cautious and expected a slow retail
recovery.
S&P 500 futures <SPc1> rose 4.9 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 28
points, and Nasdaq 100 futures <NDc1> were up 11.5 points.
The S&P 500 dipped below its 20-day moving average on
Friday for the first time since Sept. 1, but managed to close
above it in a sign the level -- currently just above 1,194 --
could provide strong technical support.
Lowe's Cos Inc <LOW.N> reported third-quarter profit that
beat expectations by a penny, but sales missed estimates.
[]
The dollar index <.DXY> rose 0.5 percent, hitting a
six-week high, lifted by higher U.S. Treasury yields. Crude oil
<CLc1> rose 0.8 percent, recovering from heavy selling on
Friday. []
Also in deal news, BHP Billiton <BBL.N><BLT.L> scrapped its
$39 billion bid for Canada's Potash Corp <POT.N> on Sunday
after regulators rejected the deal. U.S.-listed shares of
Potash slid 3.6 percent to $134.82 in premarket trading.
[]
ArcelorMittal SA <ISPA.AS><MT.N> is interested in buying
Massey Energy Co <MEE.N>, the Wall Street Journal reported.
[]
The newspaper also reported that Takeda Pharmaceutical Co
Ltd <4502.T> had explored whether it wanted to pursue a deal
for Genzyme Corp <GENZ.O> but was unlikely to do
so.[]
Richmond Federal Reserve President Jeffrey Lacker said
Sunday he was opposed to the central bank's last round of
monetary easing, believing the policy was potentially dangerous
and likely ineffective. []
Wall Street ended a five-week winning streak on Friday as
the threat of rising interest rates in China prompted investors
to book profits and reassess bullish positions in equities.
(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
