LONDON (ShareCast) - Stock futures were pointing to a flat-to-slightly-lower start on Wall Street Monday as traders paused for breath following Friday's record closing prices for the Dow Jones and S&P 500.

No major data is on tap today so markets are likely to keep close eyes on speakers from the Federal Reserve as speculation ramps up about a potential exit strategy from quantitative easing. Minutes from the latest Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) policy meeting are due out on Wednesday.

The head of the Dallas Fed, Richard Fisher (not a FOMC member), has said that a sudden stop of stimulus would be "too violent" for the market and suggested the Fed should taper off its asset purchases. Meanwhile Charles Evans, President of the Chicago Fed and FOMC member, is due to speak this afternoon.

Yahoo! confirms Tumblr acquisition

In the corporate world, Yahoo! was dominating the headlines after confirming news that it is to buy social-media website Tumblr for $1.1bn.

“Per the agreement and our promise not to screw it up,Tumblr will be independently operated as a separate business," Yahoo said in a press release.

In other M&A news, Websense futures soared on reports that the internet security group is to go private in a deal valued at around $1.0bn. Actavis edged higher after the generic drugmaker said it would take-over Warner Chilcott in a stock deal worth $5.0bn.

JPMorgan Chase & Co will be closely watched ahead of the shareholder vote tomorrow on whether to split Jamie Dimon's jobs of Chairman and Chief Executive. The vote could be an "inflection point" in shareholders' pushes for greater say in the boardroom, according to The New York Times.

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