Stock index futures pointed to gains for equities on Wednesday, reversing falls from the previous three sessions, with futures for the S&P 500, the Dow Jones and for the Nasdaq up 0.5 to 0.6 percent by 0802 GMT.

* Optimism about the health of the global economy gathered pace after data showed China's economy grew faster than expected in the second quarter, easing fears of a hard landing.

* Following minutes of the latest Federal Reserve meeting which suggested the possibility of more stimulus measures, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is set to testify before the House of Representatives on Wednesday and the Senate on Thursday, and will likely be asked why the Fed's current stimulus measures have not been more effective at bringing down unemployment.

* U.S. stocks closed lower for a third straight day on Tuesday as Europe's fiscal woes and a weak start to tech earnings gave investors little reason to buy even after recent losses.

* Marriott International is set to report second- quarter results, with analysts expecting the firm to report earnings per share of $0.37 from $0.31 a year ago.

* Yum! Brands is also scheduled to release second- quarter results, with earnings per share seen rising to $0.61 from $0.58 a year earlier.

* On the data front, the latest weekly U.S. mortgage and refinancing indexes will be released at 1100 GMT, with June import and export prices due at 1230 GMT, and June's Federal Budget at 1800 GMT.

* In company news, Electronic Arts Inc , the video game publisher, is buying PopCap Games in a deal worth up to $1.3 billion as it tries to ramp up its social and casual games portfolio and better compete with Zynga Inc.

* Netflix Inc hiked monthly prices for customers who use both its mail and online services, a move that could steer users toward its growing Internet streaming service.

* In Europe, the FTSEurofirst 300 <.FTEU3> index of top shares was flat in early trade, with mining shares rallying along with metals prices on the back of the encouraging data from China.

(Reporting by Harpreet Bhal; Editing by David Holmes)

China Ben Bernanke