U.S. stock futures pointed higher Monday, buoyed by gains overseas amid growing confidence that government measures to stabilize the financial system will be successful.

In Europe, Dutch bank and insurance company ING announced Sunday that it has secured a 10 billion euros (US$13.4 billion) capital injection from the Dutch state.

Here at home, Canada’s premiers and territorial leaders meet today in Montreal to discuss the state of the economy amid worries the global financial crisis will cost further jobs and other losses in their regions.

The Canadian dollar opened at US84.85¢, up 0.60 cent from Friday, supported by higher prices for oil and other commodities, and ahead of tomorrow’s widely expected interest rate cut by the Bank of Canada.

Oil futures rose US$1.68 to US$73.81 a barrel, as traders continuted to bet that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will cut production when its ministers hold an emergency meeting next week.

Gold was up US$12.40 to US$800.10 an ounce.

South of the border, investors will look to the U.S. Conference Board’s leading economic indicators and testimony from U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke before the U.S. House Budget Committee later in the day.

In today’s earnings news, American Express, Mattel, Hasbro, Texas Instruments and Sandisk are scheduled to report results.

European stocks were broadly higher in midday trade, led by banks and miners, as confidence grew that government measures to stabilize the global financial system will be successful.

The UK’s FTSE 100 index was up 1.5% early in the afternoon in London. Germany’s DAX edged up 0.4%, nudged higher by financial stocks, while the French CAC-40 advanced 1.3%.

In Asia, the Japanese Nikkei average closed with a gain of 3.6%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index jumped 5.3%.

IE