Stock index futures signal small rebound

(Reuters) - Stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Wall Street on Monday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.13 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.04 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.27 percent at 0957 GMT (4:57 a.m. ET).

The dollar index hit a six-week high, lifted by higher U.S. Treasury yields, while the euro was stung as Ireland's deepening debt problems shook confidence in the euro zone.

Richmond Federal Reserve President Jeffrey Lacker indicated on Sunday he opposed the central bank's new round of monetary easing, saying he believed the policy was potentially dangerous and likely ineffective.

European stocks were down in morning trade, retreating for the fourth consecutive session, hurt by lingering concerns over Ireland's ability to pay its debt, while a drop in base metal prices dragged down mining stocks.

Base metal prices dropped on Monday on persistent concerns China may hike interest rates and as the U.S. dollar rose.

Ireland did not rule out the possibility that it may have to turn to Europe for help in dealing with its debt crisis on Sunday but said that no application had been made for assistance yet.

The Irish Independent reported on Monday, quoting an unnamed source, that the country is considering asking for money for its banks from the European Union's emergency fund in a bid to fend off the threat of a bailout for the state.

Japan's Nikkei average rose 1.1 percent on Monday, back toward a 4-1/2 month high hit last week as a softer yen and stronger-than-expected Japanese growth data for July-September encouraged investors to buy on dips.

On the M&A front, top global miner BHP Billiton scrapped its $39 billion bid for Canada's Potash Corp , the world's biggest deal this year, and bowed to calls from investors to return cash with a $4.2 billion share buyback.

Genzyme Corp will be in focus after the Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed sources, that Japan's No.1 drugmaker Takeda Pharmaceuticals <4502.T> had explored whether it wanted to pursue a possible counter-bid for the U.S. biotechnology company, the target of a $18.5 billion hostile bid from French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis . The WSJ said Takeda was unlikely to bid.

Goldman Sachs Group has hit a snag in its efforts to win U.S. government approval to pay back a $5 billion investment from Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc , the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Economic data due on Monday includes October retail sales, the Empire State survey for November and September business inventories , while companies expected to report quarterly results include Nordstrom and Lowe's Cos .

Wall Street ended a five-week winning streak on Friday as the threat of rising interest rates in China prompted investors to book profits and reassess bullish positions in equities.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> fell 90.52 points, or 0.80 percent, to end at 11,192.58. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> slid 14.33 points, or 1.18 percent, to 1,199.21. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> dropped 37.31 points, or 1.46 percent, to 2,518.21.

(Reporting by Blaise Robinson; Editing by Erica Billingham)