LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. futures pointed to a firmer start on Wall Street on Monday with investors awaiting results and guidance from a brace of S&P 500 companies, including American Express (AXP.N: Quote) and Texas Instruments (TXN.N: Quote).

The market also continues to eye Hurricane Wilma, which has bypassed the U.S. oil and gas facilities in the Gulf of Mexico but may still cause more damage.

With inflation concerns still dominating, investors will focus on company outlooks and how they may be affected by rising interest rates, high energy costs and a hesitant consumer.

"While (Wilma won't affect) the oil sector, expect the insurance, retail and construction sectors to be heavily traded this week. With the October Consumer confidence and home sales due out later, the U.S. market could well end up deep in the red as inflation keeps the pressure on," FSW Europe dealer George Leavey said in a note.

By 1010 GMT, U.S. stock futures were pointing to opening gains of around 0.2 percent for the three main indexes . On Friday, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.6 percent to 10,215.2 points, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.7 percent to 2,082.2.

Meanwhile, equity markets in Europe were supported on Monday by a fall in the oil price to under $60 a barrel and the yen strengthened against the dollar after a Chinese central bank adviser said further changed in the central bank's yuan policy were inevitable.

American Express, is due to report third-quarter earnings per share, which a Reuters poll expects to come in at $0.74. Texas Instruments is expected to report third-quarter EPS of 0.39 euros per share.

Others due to publish results are Reebok International (RBK.N: Quote), Schering-Plough Corp (SGP.N: Quote), Cendant Corp (CD.N: Quote), Merck & Co Inc (MRK.N: Quote), Ashland Inc (ASH.N: Quote) and Clear Channel Communications (CCU.N: Quote).

Archstone-Smith Trust (ASN.N: Quote) reported third-quarter earnings per share of $0.80 and forecast 2005 EPS of $2.50 to $3.00, while Triad Hospitals (TRI.N: Quote) posted third-quarter EPS of $0.53, missing expectations.

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