U.S. stocks were poised for another record Monday following gains in European and Asian stocks. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures added 31 points, or 0.2%, to 17811. S&P 500 futures rose four points, or 0.2%, to 2066 and Nasdaq-100 futures advanced 12 points, or 0.3%, to 4261. Changes in stock futures don’t always accurately predict moves in the stock market after the opening bell. Stocks rose Friday, with the Dow gaining 0.5% to 17810.06 and the S&P up 0.5% to 2063.50. Both indexes closed at records amid a rally sparked by an interest-rate cut in China and remarks underscoring the European Central Bank’s willingness to ease further. The Federal Reserve’s easy monetary policy has been credited in part with stock-market gains in recent years. The Dow has gained nearly 11% and the S&P is up more than 14% over the last 12 months, through Friday’s close. While the Fed has ended its bond-purchase program and is eyeing an increase in interest rates, other heavyweight central banks are accelerating easing actions as they fight slowing growth. “Because we had the Asian markets up so strongly in response to the lower interest rates from China, that has helped to maintain momentum here in the U.S.,� said Sam Stovall, U.S. equity strategist at S&P Capital IQ. Chinese and Hong Kong stocks rallied in response to the surprise interest-rate cut from the People’s Bank of China, which was announced Friday after most Asian stock markets were closed. The cut was China’s first to borrowing costs in more than two years and boosted optimism about the growth outlook for the world’s second-biggest economy. “The engine of economic activity in Asia is attempting to reignite its economic growth, and that would be a positive� for U.S. stocks, said Mr. Stovall. European stocks continued to get a lift from ECB President Mario Draghi ’s Friday comments, in which he emphasized the importance of getting eurozone inflation back up to the ECB’s target. Those marks were widely interpreted as a sign that the ECB could take further easing action to fight ultralow inflation. The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index rose 0.4%. Eurozone data released Monday showed a stronger reading on German business sentiment than expected, however, which could diminish some expectations for immediate action from the ECB. In commodity markets, crude-oil futures fell 0.2% to $76.31 a barrel. Gold futures declined 0.2% to $1195.20 an ounce. Demand for haven U.S. government debt declined. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which moves inversely with its price, rose to 2.332%. In economic news, a gauge of regional manufacturing activity in Texas is scheduled for release. Later this week, investors will watch for the second reading on third-quarter gross domestic product, a report on consumer spending for October and the Federal Reserve’s preferred gauge of inflation. Deal news attracted attention on Monday. Reinsurance firm RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. agreed to buy Platinum Underwriters Holdings Ltd. in a stock-and-cash deal worth more than $1.9 billion. The deal’s per-share price of $76 represents a 24% premium over Platinum’s closing price on Friday. Shares of RenaissanceRe rose 10% and those of Platinum Underwriters jumped 20% in premarket trade. Drug maker BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. said it agreed to pay up to $840 million to buy Dutch company Prosensa Holding NV. Prosensa is a biopharmaceutical company that currently has no market products. The deal represents a bet that Prosensa will get regulatory approval for a muscular dystrophy drug. Shares of BioMarin were unchanged in premarket trading. United Technologies Corp. named a new chief executive Monday. The company said Chief Executive Louis Chenevert is retiring, effective immediately, and will be replaced by Chief Financial Officer Gregory Hayes. Shares fell 1.1% in premarket trading.

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