By Steve Goldstein, MarketWatch LONDON (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock futures crept higher Monday as investors looked ahead to earnings reports that so far have clobbered expectations. S&P 500 futures rose 3.3 points to 1,080.20 and Nasdaq 100 futures added 6 points to 1,758.00. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 27 points. U.S. stocks struggled on Friday, with the S&P 500 retreating 1.2% to drag the week's performance to a 0.7% fall. Monday's economic calendar is light, with the Treasury selling $7 billion of five-year inflation-protected notes to kick off a busy week of debt sales. There also was a flurry of bank bankruptcies announced over the weekend that took the total to 106 this year. Real-estate lender Capmark Financial, owned by private-equity groups and GMAC, also joined the bankruptcy wave. Verizon Communications (VZ 28.85, -0.17, -0.59%) highlights Monday's wave of earnings reports that generally have come in well ahead of estimates. According to Thomson Reuters, 81% of the 199 S&P 500 companies that have reported results have beaten estimates. Marvell Technology (MRVL 14.58, -0.30, -2.02%) lifted its earnings outlook, citing better-than-forecast revenue and a tax benefit. In Europe, where earnings haven't been as stellar, refrigerator maker Electrolux climbed after nearly doubling third-quarter net income. Holland's ING (ING 17.37, -0.11, -0.63%) announced a sweeping break-up plan to sell or list its insurance operations to repay state aid. The Seoul Composite rose 0.7% as data showed the Korean economy climbing 2.9% in the third quarter. Shares in Europe hovered around the flat line, with the FTSE 100 up 0.2% in London. Oil futures fell but traded above the $80-a-barrel mark; the dollar slipped against the Japanese yen.

Source