* U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher opening on Wall Street on Wednesday, with futures for the S&P 500 SPc1 up 0.9 percent, Dow Jones DJc1 futures up 0.8 percent and Nasdaq 100 NDc1 futures up 0.8 percent at 0954 GMT.

* On the macro front, data showed on Wednesday Chinese factory output growth surged to a 19-month high in October, signalling that the world's third-biggest economy has firmly put the worst of the global economic crisis behind it. [ID:nPEK212006]

* United Parcel Service Inc (UPS.N: Quote, Profile, Research), the world's largest package delivery service, expects growth in its volumes next year as the global economy gradually recovers, its chief said on Wednesday. [ID:nSIN517117]

* Private equity firm TPG Capital could partner with American Airlines in a minority investment in Japan Airlines (9205.T: Quote, Profile, Research) to prevent its defection to a rival airline group, the chief financial officer of American parent AMR Corp (AMR.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said. [ID:nBNG509104]

* McGraw-Hill Inc (MHP.N: Quote, Profile, Research) is committed to its Standard & Poor's unit, and welcomes tougher regulation aimed at further transparency and accountability in the credit ratings industry, its chairman said on Wednesday. [ID:nPEK283107]

* Unhappy over constraints imposed by U.S. government overseers, American International Group Inc's (AIG.N: Quote, Profile, Research) chief executive, Robert Benmosche, told the company's board last week that he was considering stepping down, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.

* Oil eased below $79 a barrel on Wednesday, as mildly bearish October loans data from China offset signs of robust industrial output and retail sales from the world's second-largest energy consumer.

* The dollar hit a 15-month low against a currency basket on Wednesday as the U.S. currency came under broad selling pressure versus its higher-risk counterparts on the view that the global economy may be improving.

* U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Wednesday he believes strongly in the need to maintain a strong dollar and said the United States was determined to get its budget deficit down. [ID:nT335432]