Stocks seen higher on merger news; oil up By Anupama Chandrasekaran NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Monday with merger activity grabbing headlines, while oil prices reached a six-week peak above $55 a barrel. In merger action, online brokerage E*Trade Financial Corp. has raised its bid for rival Ameritrade Holding Corp. in hopes of derailing Ameritrade's separate merger talks with TD Waterhouse, the Wall Street Journal reported. Meanwhile, ProLogis said it is buying rival real-estate investment trust Catellus Development Corp in a $4.9 billion deal. S&P 500 futures fell 0.1 point, above fair value accounting for interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures were down 6 points, while Nasdaq 100 rose 1 point. Oil prices were higher despite brimming crude stocks in the United States, as worries of thin winter supply pushed up heating oil to two-month highs. U.S. light sweet crude rose 22 cents to $55.25 a barrel. "The market is struggling for direction. Greenspan is talking on Thursday and there is some uncertainty where to head. With oil creeping up above $55 barrel that could be on the way of the market. But we are still very much range bound," said Will Armitage, senior quoting dealer at spread betting firm IG Index. Investors looked ahead to hearing Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's view of the U.S. economy that could signal the pace for future interest rate hikes at a testimony on Thursday. Bristol-Myers Squibb will be in focus after a source familiar with the situation said on Sunday that the drugmaker is expected to pay nearly $300 million to settle a criminal investigation of its accounting practices by the U.S. Justice Department. Investors will also watch shares of Yahoo Inc. after the Internet media company said on Sunday it will quit charging fees for auctions on its U.S. site in an effort to encourage more people to sell their wares. Agilent Technologies Inc. will also be eyed after the Wall Street Journal reported that the electronics and testing equipment maker is looking to sell its semiconductor products division. U.S. stocks slid on Friday as investors worried about a faltering economy after a government report showed May payrolls grew at the weakest pace in 21 months and crude oil prices topped $55 a barrel. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 92.52 points, or 0.88 percent, to close at 10,460.97. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 8.27 points, or 0.69 percent, to end at 1,196.02. The technology-laced Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 26.37 points, or 1.26 percent, to 2,071.43. Quelle "Stocks seen higher on merger news; oil up" : reuters.com Main page for "Stocks seen higher on merger news; oil up"