US index futures gain on German growth, headway on Greek talks

By Roxana Zega

US stock-index futures rose, with the Standard & Poor?s 500 Index 3 points away from a record, as German growth data signaled a strengthening in Europe?s recovery and optimism increased about Greek debt talks.

Contracts on the Standard & Poor?s 500 Index expiring in March advanced 0.2 percent to 2,087.6 at 6:12 a.m. in New York. Futures on the Nasdaq Composite Index added 0.3 percent, with the underlying gauge at its highest level in almost 15 years. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 0.2 percent to 17,970.

?The US market benefits from a continued improvement in sentiment in Europe, driven by today?s good GDP figures for Germany,? said Otto Waser, chief investment officer at R&A Research & Asset Management AG in Zurich.

US stocks rose Friday, capping their biggest rally since the dot-com bubble. The value of global equities is headed for a gain of more than $66 trillion this week amid easing concerns over Greece?s debt and conflict in Ukraine.

?Both issues have played out better than expected and markets have thus started to regain confidence over the past few days,? Waser said.

Government officials taking part in Greece?s debt negotiations said both sides are signaling willingness to compromise, while the German economy, Europe?s largest, expanded 0.7 percent in the fourth quarter, more than twice as much as forecast.

Earnings, Data

Investors are also awaiting U.S. earnings reports and data to gauge the strength of the world?s largest economy. The University of Michigan?s preliminary consumer sentiment index will probably show confidence remained at an 11-year high in February, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Exelon Corp. and J.M. Smucker Co. are among six S...