(by Dr. Goldfinger)

S&P 500 futures expiring in September added 2 to 1087.50 as of 7:53 in New York. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gained 12 to 9967, according to Bloomberg News.

Schering-Plough Corp. and Merck & Co. climbed after U.S. regulators approved their cholesterol treatment. AT&T Corp. advanced after Newsweek magazine reported the largest U.S. long- distance phone company will probably receive a takeover bid.

U.S. stocks fell last week, sending the S&P 500 to its sixth straight weekly decline, the longest stretch in more than nine months.