NEW YORK (AP) ? Strong retail sales results are helping lift U.S. stock market futures.
Dow Jones industrial average futures are up 57 points to 12,954 after four straight daily gains. S&P 500 futures are rising 7.2 points to 1,374. Nasdaq 100 futures are up 14 to 2,661.
The Commerce Department said retail sales rose 1.1 percent last month, the biggest gain in five months. Some of that reflected higher gas prices, but auto sales were also strong.
In London, the FTSE 100 index rose 0.09 percent while Germany’s DAX added 0.99 percent. The CAC-40 in France added more than 1 percent. The major indexes in Asia also posted gains, as world markets found optimism in the U.S. recovery.
U.S. stocks to watch include Yahoo Inc., which is suing Facebook, claiming patent infringement.