* The solid November employment report showed that the economy was strong enough to absorb a widely expected interest rate hike when the Federal Reserve meets on Dec. 15-16. * The report came a day after Fed Chair Janet Yellen struck an upbeat note on the economy when she testified before lawmakers, describing how it had largely met the criteria for a rate hike. * St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard is scheduled to speak on the U.S. economy at 12:30 p.m. ET (1430 GMT).