US Futures
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a slightly lower open on Wall Street, Monday, Nov.26. REUTERS

U.S. stock index futures point to a higher open on Monday as investors await the latest personal income and spending data to be released by the Commerce Department and the National Association of Realtors' pending home sales index.

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were up 0.33 percent, futures on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index were up 0.30 percent and those on the Nasdaq 100 Index were up 0.34 percent.

The Department of Commerce will release the March personal income and consumption data at 8:30 a.m. EDT. Economists forecast a 0.4 percent increase in personal income in March after surging 1.1 percent in the preceding month, while personal spending is likely to rise 0.1 percent after gaining 0.7 percent in February. The core PCE deflator is expected to increase 0.1 percent.

The National Association of Realtors' pending home sales index for March will be released at 10 a.m. EST. The home sales index, which measures the change in the number of homes under contract to be sold but still awaiting the closing transaction, excluding new construction, is likely to increase 1 percent in March after declining 0.4 percent in the prior month.

On the earnings front, Hartford Financial Services Group Inc (NYSE: HIG), Newmont Mining Corp. (NYSE: NEM), Express Scripts Holding Co. (NASDAQ: ESRX), Roper Industries Inc. (NYSE:ROP) and Loews Corpo (NYSE: L) will report their quarterly earnings on Monday.

U.S. stock markets ended mixed on Friday as sentiment was dampened after official data showed that the world’s largest economy expanded at a slower pace than expected in the first quarter. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.08 percent, the S&P 500 Index was down 0.18 percent and the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 0.33 percent.

The U.S. Department of Commerce said Friday that the U.S. economy grew at a 2.5 percent annual rate in the first three months of the year, up from 0.4 percent annual rate reported in the fourth quarter of 2012, but fell short of economists' estimate of a 3.0 percent gain.

European stock markets were trading higher on Monday, with Germany's DAX30 gaining 0.53 percent, France's CAC 40 surging 1 percent and London's FTSE 100 advancing 0.08 percent.

Asian stock markets were mixed Monday as investors opted for caution ahead of a bunch of economic data due to be released during the week, including the monthly U.S. nonfarm payrolls and central bank policy meetings in the euro zone and the U.S. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.15 percent and India’s BSE Sensex fell 0.16 percent while South Korea’s KOSPI Composite declined 0.20 percent. Markets in Japan and China remain closed for a public holiday.