NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- U.S. stocks were poised for a higher open Monday as a report on personal income and spending was set to kick off a busy, and holiday-shortened, week.
Dow Jones industrial average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq 100 futures were up.
Futures measure current index values against perceived future performance and offer an indication of how markets may open when trading begins.
Despite a mixed finish Friday, the major stock indexes have risen six of the past seven weeks. But this week, which will include the end of 2010's first quarter, could test how strong the economy really is.
The week will be capped by the March employment report on Friday, although stock markets won't be able to react until next Monday because they'll be closed for Good Friday.
Economy: The February reading on personal income and spending is due before the start of trading.
The Commerce Department report is expected to show that income rose 0.1% in February, according to a consensus of economists surveyed by Briefing.com. Income rose 0.1% in January too. Spending is expected to have risen 0.3% in February following a rise of 0.5% in January.
The Core PCE deflator -- a key measure of inflation that is part of the spending report -- is expected to have risen 0.1% following a flat reading in January.
Companies: Chinese carmaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group has purchased Volvo cars from U.S. automaker Ford, the Swedish carmaker announced Sunday.
The $1.8 billion deal represents the biggest ever purchase by a Chinese car manufacturer, but it is considerably less than the $6.4 billion Ford (F, Fortune 500) paid for Volvo in 1999.
World markets: Asian stocks ended higher. In Japan, Tokyo's Nikkei index gained 1.5%, while the Hang Seng in Hong Kong rallied more than 2%.
In Europe, stocks were mixed, with Britain's FTSE 100 lower, and France's CAC 40 and Germany's DAX higher in early trade.
The dollar and commodities: The dollar eased against the euro and pound, but was unchanged versus the yen.
Crude oil for May delivery added 66 cents to $80.66 a barrel.
The price of gold for April delivery was up $6.40 an ounce to $1,111.40.
Treasurys: The price of the benchmark 10-year note was higher, lowering the yield to 3.85%.
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