3:15 AM
(Reuters) Stock index futures pointed to a stronger open on Wall Street on Wednesday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.8 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.5 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.8 percent at 0847 GMT.
* Tech majors Intel Corp (INTC.O) and Yahoo Inc (YHOO.O) beat revenue expectations after the market's close on Tuesday, an encouraging trend for the sector and sparking a strong rally in Asian and European tech shares.
* Intel shares traded in Frankfurt (INTC.F) were up 4.8 percent, while Yahoo shares traded in Frankfurt (YHOO.F) were up 1.8 percent.
* IBM shares traded in Frankfurt (IBM.F) were down 2 percent. The company reported a decline in signings of new business at its global services division during the first quarter, even as it reported profit and revenue ahead of analysts' projections.
* Companies scheduled to report quarterly results on Wednesday include Apple Inc (AAPL.O), American Express Co (AXP.N), AT&T Inc (T.N), United Technologies (UTX.N) and Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX.N).
* Apple is expected to report quarterly results on Wednesday, tempered by caution over how supply constraints will squeeze margins and restrain iPhone and iPad sales.
* Economic indicators include March existing home sales.
* On the M&A front, U.S. power company AES Corp (AES.N) said it would buy smaller rival DPL Inc (DPL.N) for $3.5 billion in cash to expand its footprint in the midwest region by adding 500,000 retail customers in West Central Ohio.
* Tokyo stocks snapped a three-day losing streak on Wednesday after Intel's earnings guidance sparked short-covering in chip-related stocks, while European stocks were up 1 percent in morning trade, led by tech shares such as ASML (ASML.AS) and Infineon (IFXGn.DE).
* U.S. crude oil futures were up $1.32 at $109.60 a barrel on Wednesday, as a rebound in equities and a weaker dollar eclipsed fears over eroding demand.
* Encouraging results from health care and materials companies lifted U.S. stocks on Tuesday, but weak earnings from Goldman Sachs limited gains in a market skeptical of the growth outlook.
* The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI gained 65.16 points, or 0.53 percent, to 12,266.75 at the close. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX added 7.48 points, or 0.57 percent, to 1,312.62. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC advanced 9.59 points, or 0.35 percent, to 2,744.97.
(Reporting by Blaise Robinson; Editing by Louise Heavens)
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