(Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were up on Monday after three weeks of losses for the Dow and S&P as investors awaited the release of manufacturing and housing data.* The benchmark S&P 500 has fallen 2.7 percent in the last three weeks including a 0.9 percent drop last week. The Dow lost 0.6 percent last week while the Nasdaq declined 1.1 percent for the week.* Investors were cautious ahead of a U.S. Federal Reserve statement due out on Wednesday as they expect the central bank to give a clearer signal on the timing of its first interest rate hike in almost a decade.* The New York Fed's Empire State manufacturing survey is due out at 8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT), followed by Industrial production numbers at 9:15 a.m., while NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index data is scheduled for release at 10:00 a.m.* European shares rose on Monday with Germany's DAX hitting a record high as the euro struck a fresh 12-year low. Investors bet the currency's fall will boost European corporate earnings while the rising dollar has been hurting the earnings of U.S. multinational firms.* Uncertainty over Greece continued with leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras saying on Monday that he would not accept a return to austerity, though he was convinced the country would strike a deal with international partners to keep finances afloat.* Brent crude oil fell to around $54 a barrel on Monday, its lowest for more than a month, on rising global inventories and signs of a possible nuclear deal with Tehran that could allow more Iranian oil exports.Futures snapshot at 7:20 a.m.:* S&P 500 e-minis were up 8 points, or 0.39 percent, with 89,383 contracts changing hands.* Nasdaq 100 e-minis were up 15 points, or 0.35 percent, in volume of 5,373 contracts.* Dow e-minis were up 63 points, or 0.36 percent, with 5,007 contracts changing hands.(Reporting by Sinead Carew; Editing by Bernadette Baum)Join the conversation about this story »
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