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U.S. stock index futures rose about 1 percent on Monday, looking to snap a three-session losing streak as commodity and natural resource stocks gained on a falling U.S. dollar.

James Bullard, the St. Louis Federal Reserve  president, said Sunday the central bank should extend its mortgage-related assets purchase program to give policy-makers more flexibility as they help the economy recover from a painful recession. 

The U.S. dollar index .DXY dropped 0.8 percent on Monday, while January crude futures jumped 1.3 percent to $78.45 per barrel. Gold hit a new record high at $1,167.45 an ounce.

"The dollar is pulling back, and the trend has been that a weak dollar pushes up commodities and lifts stocks," said Arthur Hogan, chief market analyst at Jefferies & Co in New York.

"After the dip we just had, you'll see an influx of buyers, which could lift the market possibly more than 1 percent across the board," he added.

S&P 500 futures SPc1 rose 11.5 points and were above fair value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures DJc1 gained 95 points, and Nasdaq 100 futures NDc1 added 17 points.

According to a survey released on Monday, the National Association for Business Economists boosted its forecast for economic growth over the next year, though it also said the jobless rate would remain high.

Hewlett-Packard Co (HPQ.N), the last Dow component to report quarterly results, is scheduled after the market closes. Campbell Soup Co (CPB.N) is also set to report.

Monday's economic data will include October existing home sales.

Ciena Corp (CIEN.O) will buy Nortel Networks Corp's (NRTLQ.PK) optical networking and carrier ethernet unit for $769 million after trumping Nokia Siemens Networks in a three-day auction, sources told Reuters on Sunday. 

Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) has talked with News Corp (NWSA.O) about a tie-up that would involve News getting paid to take its news websites off Google Inc (GOOG.O), a source familiar with the matter said on Sunday.

China's annual economic growth will reach 10 percent this quarter and rise even faster in the first quarter of 2010, an official of the State Council Development Research Centre said on Monday.

The European currency slumped Friday as waning confidence about the global economic outlook prompted investors to seek refuge in the U.S dollar and Yen. The EUR slipped to below $1.49 down 1% from yesterday. The EUR was also down 0.3% at 132.31 yen after dipping close to its 200-day moving average at 132.13.

A drop in demand for risk triggered an overnight sell-off in global equity markets as well as in oil, gold and other commodities. Declines by oil and gold reinforced support for the low-yielding currencies, putting more pressure on the European currency.

The currency pair remains trapped in a stalemate between support at $1.4800 and resistance at $1.5050 strategists said, with only bullish U.S. data and equity possible triggers for a break-out to the upside. The Euro-Zone currency was is headed lower vs. the USD as investors remain sensitive to recent efforts by the European Central Bank to talk the single currency down to support export-based economies.

The Dollar continued to weaken versus most majors as carry trade and risk appetite remained the main source for the Dollar's weakness. The Widening deficit in the Trade Balance and an unexpected drop in Michigan's Consumer Sentiment worried investors about the recovery but gains in stocks left risk appetite strong. NASDAQ and Dow Jones gained by 2.62% and 2.46% respectively. Crude Oil declined by -0.98% the past week closing at 76.35$ a barrel after probably making a false break below 76$. Gold (XAU) continued making new highs closing at 1,118.41$ an ounce with a 1.8% weekly gain. Looking ahead, Retail Sales on Monday are expected stronger with 1% versus -1.5% prior as consumer spending rises. U.S CPI will be released on Wednesday and is expected with 0.1% versus 0.2% prior, CPI will reveal more information on the looming inflation.