Futures point to higher open for Wall Street

(Reuters) - Stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher open for Wall Street on Tuesday, with futures for the S&P 500, the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq trading flat to 0.1 percent higher by 1006 GMT.

Shares on Wall Street were lifted on Monday by modest gains on the S&P <.SPX> and the Nasdaq <.IXIC>, though low volumes indicated the equity rally may be reaching a peak.

Major economic data, including retail sales figures for January, will likely provide further direction for equities during the session.

Economists polled by Reuters expected retail sales to have risen by 0.6 percent in January, matching December's rise.

Other data due included import and export prices as well as the New York Fed's manufacturing index for February, both set for 1330 GMT.

In company news, Deutsche Boerse and NYSE Euronext were expected to announce a deal to create the world's largest exchange operator, putting to one side the thorny political issues that pose a challenge to its successful completion.

General Motors will add over 20 new and upgraded models in China, its CEO said, as the U.S. automaker looks to use its leading position in the world's biggest car market to reclaim the No.1 carmaker spot from Toyota Motor Corp.

Biotechnology company Genzyme Corp and French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis SA , which is seeking to acquire it, are still haggling over price.

Major companies to report quarterly earnings include Dell , with analysts predicting the technology group to show earnings per share of 37 cents, up from 28 cents a year ago.

On the economic front, China reported 4.9 percent inflation, matching figures widely cited by traders in financial markets on Monday.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 <.FTEU3> index of top shares edged up in early trade, as upbeat earnings companies including British lender Barclays and French food group Danone helped underpin investor confidence.

(Reporting by Harpreet Bhal; Editing by Dan Lalor)