Stocks are indicated modestly higher following a round of mixed stock news and ahead of monthly auto and truck sales numbers. Thirty minutes before the opening bell on Wall Street, stock index futures hint at a possible 40 or 50-point early gain for the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

With no economic data to guide the morning action, the focus is on the day’s stock news. The fertilizer names are in the spotlight after CF Industries (CF) made a $47 per share bid for Terra Industries (TRA).

Domino’s (DPZ) added 5.5 percent after reporting better-than-expected earnings and revenues. MBIA (MBI) is also up on earnings. However, Staples (SPLS) fell 6 percent after its earnings failed to live up to Street expectations.

The auto makers move into the spotlight, with monthly auto and truck sales numbers due out this afternoon.

Energy, metals and miners might see early strength after crude oil rose 45 cents to $79.15 a barrel and gold gained $3.2 to $1121.50 an ounce.

Bonds are lower as equities steady for a second day and players begin to square positions ahead of tomorrow’s jobs numbers from ADP. The benchmark ten-year Treasury is off 6/32nd and yields 3.62 percent.

The dollar edged up .03 to 89.14 against the yen. The euro added .0020 to 1.3575 against the buck.