U.S. stock futures climb after three-day break - MarketWatch

U.S. stock futures climb after three-day break - MarketWatch

Wal-Mart Stores (WMT:

WMT) topped forecasts on fourth-quarter earnings, but its 2008 earnings outlook missed analyst expectations. Wal-Mart wobbled in pre-open trade, and recently traded up 1.1%.

After the close of trade, computer giant Hewlett-Packard (HPQ:

HPQ) is due to report earnings.

The metals sector also will be in focus after several steelmakers agreed to pay 65% more for iron ore from Brazil's Vale (RIO:

RIO) . Vale's shares rose over 6% in pre-open trade. U.S. Steel (X:

X) was upgraded to buy form neutral on UBS on expectations the steelmakers will pass on the rise in commodity costs.

Onyx Pharmaceuticals (ONXX:

ONXX) slumped around 20% in pre-open trade after it and Bayer stopped a Phase III trial of Nexavar to treat non-small cell lung cancer, because the drug didn't improve patient survival.

Barclays (BCS:

BCS ) climbed 9% in pre-open trade after the U.K. bank approved a 10% dividend hike and reported a 3% profit fall for 2007. British banks including Barclays and Lloyds TSB (LYG:

LYG ) also rose on Monday in London action after lending rival Northern Rock was nationalized.

Overseas, the FTSE 100 turned considerably higher after early losses, up 1%, while the Nikkei 225 ended 0.9% higher in Tokyo.