US stock futures higher; Google beats and rises

Stock futures are rising, helped by encouraging corporate news in the U.S. and Europe.

Google Inc. rose more than 7 percent in premarket trading after the tech giant reported its third-quarter profit climbed 26 percent. Food and soap company Unilever PLC announced a major acquisition, and Swiss agrochemicals firm Syngenta reported strong third-quarter sales.

European markets rose.

Toymaker Mattel Inc. reported a 6 percent rise in its third quarter earnings.

The government reports before the market opens on retail sales in September, a key early barometer of consumer activity.

S&P 500 futures are up 8 points, or 0.7 percent, at 1,206 at 7:51 a.m. Eastern time. Dow Jones industrial average futures are up 74, or 0.7 percent, at 11,466. Nasdaq 100 futures are up 14, or 0.6 percent, at 2,340.