U.S. stock index futures were slightly higher Monday, after stocks logged their first weekly loss in six, as investors looked ahead to Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's speech later this week and ahead of some key economic reports.
Stocks enjoyed a rally over the last six weeks and touched a new four-year high, but posted their first weekly loss in six weeks last week amid uncertainties in the euro zone and questions over whether the Fed will implement another round of quantitative easing. (Read More: Why Markets Should Cheer QE3 Is Not Coming Soon)
Investors will be looking ahead to Friday when Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is set to give a speech at the St. Louis Fed’s annual symposium in Wyoming for hints of further easing. However, some economists doubt the speech will reveal any new details of policy plans.
Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Evans said the central bank should "take action now," buying bonds for as long as it takes to produce a steady decline in the employment rate.
Meanwhile, some policymakers have expressed concern in the last week that piling on more bond purchases will do little to help the economy and that letting inflation rates gain could open the door to uncontrolled price hikes.
Apple jumped after the iPhone maker won a victory in a patent lawsuit against rival Samsung.
