Stock futures were higher this morning, as investors digest an inflation report out of China and await U.S. economic data and earnings. Reports on tap today include retail sales, manufacturing and business inventories. Retail sales are expected to have shown a 0.7% increase in September. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's monthly Empire State Manufacturing Index is expected to improve slightly from the previous month, and business inventories are expected to increase. In a speech given in Tokyo on Sunday Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke defended the U.S. central bank, insisting the Fed's actions haven't hindered economic growth in developin...(Click the story link or go to http://www.marketintelligencecenter.com for the full story)