Sponsored by BNP Paribas

Most European markets rose Monday as investors were encouraged by the hopeful economic indications from Asia and also the measures taken at the EU summit last week.

European markets rose Friday following encouraging announcements at the European Union summit in Brussels, where EU leaders are tackling the debt crisis threatening the financial union.

An eye-catching illustration included in a report by BNP Paribas Exane explains why the Continent's leader seem unable to solve the ever-worsening eurozone crisis: in spite of being ostensibly committed to the same goals, top policy-makers disagree on the more aggressive policies most experts believe are needed. It's almost like they're on different planets.

Thursday's downgrade contained a veiled threat that pointed at politicians in Germany, the United Kingdom, France and the United States and plainly stated, Stop talking about making the banks responsible for their own follies -- or else.

Moody's Investors Service downgraded 15 global financial institutions Thursday, including five of the largest U.S. banks, nine major European banks and the Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE: RY), a move that could tighten borrowing and require the companies to post billions of additional collateral.

Chinese market regulators announced Thursday they could be easing the rules that currently allow only a small group of foreign banks to invest in the national equity and bond markets, a move that is seen as part of a wider campaign to open the country's financial system to global competition. Whether by design or by coincidence, however, the move also takes a tremendous amount of pressure off the country's central bankers, who are between a rock and a hard place in deciding whether or n......

Asian stocks struggled and commodities fell broadly on Thursday after the Federal Reserve ramped up monetary stimulus by expanding Operation Twist, but disappointed some investors who had been hoping for more aggressive measures.

European markets rose Monday as investor confidence was rejuvenated following the victory of the pro-austerity parties in Sunday's Greek elections.

Britain's goods trade deficit unexpectedly widened in April as exports plunged, raising the threat of a third quarter of economic contraction and adding urgency to new measures to foster growth as trading partners in the euro zone weaken.

European markets rose Wednesday following an overnight rally in the Wall Street amid anticipation that the U.S. Federal Reserve would announce further quantitative easing to support the economy.

The top aftermarket NYSE gainers Thursday were: Molina Healthcare, Centene Corp, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Ivanhoe Mines and MGIC Investment Corp. The top aftermarket NYSE losers were: Cooper Companies, Ellie Mae, FleetCor Technologies, Flotek Industries and Chicago Bridge & Iron Co.

Bernard Thibault, the secretary of the Communist-backed Confédération Générale du Travail, one of France's largest unions, warned that at least 45,000 jobs (and maybe as many as 90,000) will be jettisoned by some 46 companies.

Investing in Brazil's booming economy has turned another page as foreign companies, especially Japanese firms, move from putting money into the nation's financial industry to putting it into the real economy of South America's largest nation.

The euro pulled back from a four-month low against the dollar during Asian trading Tuesday after Germany, the euro zone's largest economy, announced first-quarter GDP growth of 0.5 percent.

Gold steadied in Europe on Thursday after falling to a four-month low in the previous session, as an uptick in the euro after Spain moved to clean up its banks and Europe's bailout fund approved a key payment to Greece took some pressure off prices.

French voters turned out in force Sunday in the second round of presidential elections that are likely to make Nicolas Sarkozy the 11th European leader to be swept from office by the economic crisis.

French bank BNP Paribas SA (BNP.FR) reported Friday 9.6 percent rise in profits in the first quarter from a year ago, boosted by the sale of more than half of its stake in real estate firm Klepierre.

Gold prices retreated towards $1,650 an ounce on Wednesday as the dollar strengthened against the euro, after a downbeat reading of euro zone manufacturing activity contrasted with stronger data from the United States.

The British manufacturing sector is approaching negative growth thanks largely to a decline in exports to the troubled eurozone, according to a monthly benchmark index that gauges industrial health released Tuesday.The Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector fell to 50.5 in April, down from 51.9 in March. The report also showed the sharpest decline in new export orders since March 2009.

The share of privately-owned U.S. homes fell to a 15-year low in the first quarter as falling house prices and stringent lending conditions push younger Americans, in particular, into renting.

The Bank of Japan will expand its Asset Purchase Program by an additional 5 trillion yen ($62 billion) to increase the purchase of Japanese government bonds, exchange-traded funds and Japan real estate investment trusts, the bank announced in a statement Friday.

Palladium prices are bouncing back from a big decline that started in February in what could be a sign of rising investor confidence in the U.S. recovery, thanks to rising auto sales, and concerns over Russian supplies.

Gold rose above $1,645 an ounce on Friday as a better-than-expected German business sentiment survey lifted the euro versus the dollar, but trading was light as investors awaited further news on the euro zone crisis and U.S. monetary policy.

European economic data released on Friday topped analyst expectations, giving a boost to the region's stock markets.

Gold rose above $1,645 an ounce on Friday as a better-than-expected German business sentiment survey lifted the euro versus the dollar, but trading was light as investors awaited further news on the euro zone crisis and U.S. monetary policy.

German 10-year bond yields hit record lows on Friday and riskier assets came under pressure on growing fears about the euro zone debt crisis and uncertainty over global growth.

The New York Fed reported on Monday slowing growth within the manufacturing sector in March, with overall sentiments remained positive and employment improved despite difficulty finding highly-skilled labor.

A preliminary survey of consumer confidence for April shows the lackluster job creation seen in March is playing into people's pessimism more than economists had expected. But a recent, tiny, decline in gasoline prices, following a dizzying climb at the beginning of the year, is at least making consumers feel better about inflation and hence, expectations for the future.

The relentless decline in home prices is nearing an end and prices should rise for the first time in seven years in 2013, but a possible new wave of foreclosures could threaten the recovery, according a Reuters poll of economists.