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Alcatel Lucent SA, Nokia Corp, Sohu.com, Facebook, Barclays, Banco Santander, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp, Morgan Stanley and Apple Inc. are among the companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trading Wednesday.

Markets have been talking about QE3 for two years. Now, after a sovereign credit downgrade, the near collapse of the European financial system, and facing an anemic recovery that has only marginally helped heal the carnage in the labor and housing markets, the vast majority of financial pundits believe QE3 this week is "pretty much a given."

Asian shares edged higher Wednesday as investors remained cautiously optimistic that a German court would approve the legality of the euro zone's bailout fund later in the day and the U.S. Federal Reserve may deliver further stimulus measures this week.

Eleven years later, the men at the forefront of both sides of the 9/11 attacks are variously retired, in jail, or dead.

Two large investment banks issue fresh forecasts for the price of gold

Because of the U.S. Treasury Department's announcement Sunday that it has launched an offering of $18 billion worth of its American International Group Inc. (NYSE: AIG) common stock, the government will soon go from being the company's majority shareholder to being one of its minority shareholders.

The week is chock-full with data releases, but the Federal Reserve's policy meeting on Sept. 12-13 will carry the most weight.

News Corp.'s stock climbed to a 52-week high of $24.69 before closing at $24.50 on Thursday. The jump came two days after Anthony DiClemente, an analyst for Barclays Capital, upgraded News Corp.'s stock rating to "overweight."

While pundits and analysts dissected a myriad angles regarding the ECB's proposal, one lesser-considered issue has been how, following the announcement of the plan Thursday, it increasingly seemed Spain was being given the short end of the stick, while Italy was being favored, by the announcement.

An ADP report that private sector job creation topped analyst expectations by nearly a third has economists taking a second look at their, perhaps too negative, predictions, about what Friday's U.S. jobs report from the Labor Department will show.

Surprisingly strong U.S. job creation last month is forcing some, though not all, analysts to adopt a more upbeat outlook for growth prospects in the world's largest economy.

Employment in the U.S. private sector increased by 201,000 jobs – a greater addition than originally forecast for the month of August, according to an ADP study released Thursday. Employment in the U.S. private sector increased by 201,000 jobs – a greater addition than originally forecast for the month of August, according to an ADP study released Thursday.

Most of the European markets fell Tuesday as investors continued to remain cautious waiting for the policymakers to announce stimulus measures to boost the euro zone economy and revive the growth momentum.

Barclays PLC, which is still trying to recover from the recent Libor rate-rigging scandal, has prompted fresh criticism as allegations emerged that the British bank has been profiting handsomely from world hunger by betting on food crisis and helping to push prices up.

The top after-market NYSE gainers Friday were Dominion Resources Black Warrior Trust, Thompson Creek Metals Co, MPG Office Trust, Renren Inc and Overseas Shipholding Group. The top after-market NYSE losers were Alon USA Energy, HudBay Minerals, Heckmann Corp, Plantronics and RadioShack Corp.

European markets remained in the tight range Friday as investor confidence continued to be weighed down by fading hopes on the European Central Bank to announce policy measures to boost the euro zone economy and revive growth momentum.

Market-watchers continued to use words like "anticipation," "expectations," "disappointment" and "excitement" Thursday, less than 24 hours ahead of a speech by Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke that is being hyped up as a make-or-break moment for economic affairs in 2012.

The Ryder Cup takes place in Illinois in late September.

Risk assets fell Tuesday with the investors awaiting an announcement of some monetary easing measures by the Fed at the meeting of central bankers and economists at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, later in the week.

Apple Inc is seeking speedy bans on the sale of eight Samsung Electronics phones, moving swiftly to translate its resounding court victory over its arch-foe into a tangible business benefit.

Markets from stocks to currencies were caught in ranges Tuesday as investors waited for a gathering of central bankers and economists at Jackson Hole, Wyo., later in the week for clues over the Federal Reserve's potential easing options.

This month has been the busiest August on record for global corporate bond issuance as low-risk free yields on government bonds pushed investors to find better returns in corporate credit.

Banks involved in London interbank offered rate benchmark, or Libor, manipulations could be liable for billions of dollars in lawsuits from a slew of financial firms and investors who were affected by the distortions, according to reports.

Internet company AOL Inc. (NYSE: AOL) announced plans Monday to return $1.1 billion to shareholders through a special dividend of $5.15 per share and also to buy back $600 million of stock under an accelerated stock-repurchase agreement with Barclays Bank PLC.

Tiger Woods plays Sunday in the final round of The Barclays at Bethpage.

Tiger Woods is only three strokes back of leaders Nick Watney and Sergio Garcia after two rounds at the Barclays Championship.

Here’s how to watch a free live stream online of the 2012 Barclays at Bethpage for Friday. You can also see live scores and the leaderboard of the Fed Ex Cups here.

Burger King Worldwide, Best Buy, Logitech International, Silver Standard Resources, Hewlett-Packard, Salesforce.com, Nokia Corp and Barclays Plc. are among the companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trading Friday.

Watch live coverage of the first event of the PGA Tour playoffs from Bethpage, plus preview.