U.S. stock futures steer higher, with GM up after results - MarketWatch

U.S. stock futures steer higher, with GM up after results - MarketWatch

General Motors (GM:

GM ) rose 2.3% in pre-open action as the automaker reported a $722 million loss during the fourth quarter, but earned 8 cents a share on an adjusted basis. The auto giant also offered buyouts to 74,000 hourly workers.

Rival Ford Motor Co. (F:

F) added 3.3% in pre-open moves, and Daimler (DAI:

DAI) rose 2.2%.

Other earnings of note came from Schering-Plough (SGP:

SGP) , which reported a loss of over $3 billion but also topped analyst earnings forecasts.

Credit Suisse Group (CS:

CS) reported a 72% profit decline during the fourth quarter, hurt by write-downs related to the credit crunch. It also said it might not be able to complete a stock buyback plan this year.

Crude-oil futures slipped 80 cents to $92.79 a barrel, and gold futures dipped $2.10 to $924.60 an ounce.

Yields on 10-year Treasury bonds (TNX:

TNX

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) were 3.62%.

Overseas, the FTSE 100 rose 1.3% in London behind gains for oil explorers including Royal Dutch Shell. The Nikkei 225 was virtually flat in Tokyo.