UNITED STATES

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open for Wall Street on Wednesday, boosted by upbeat earnings from technology firm Apple .

Oil held steady near $77.50 on Wednesday, as rising stock markets and a forming Atlantic storm countered mixed U.S. inventories and disappointing housing data. U.S. crude for September, the front month-contract after Tuesday's expiry of August, rose 5 cents to $77.63 a barrel at 0653 GMT (2:53 a.m. EDT). ICE Brent gained 3 cents to $76.25.

Oil held steady near $77.50 on Wednesday, as rising stock markets and a forming Atlantic storm countered mixed U.S. inventories and disappointing housing data. U.S. crude for September, the front month-contract after Tuesday's expiry of August, shed 10 cents to $77.48 a barrel at 12:06 a.m. ET. ICE Brent fell 14 cents to $76.08.

Japan's Nikkei average inched down 0.2 percent on Wednesday, weighed down by worries about a stronger yen and doubts over the U.S. economic recovery as the market awaited events later this week, including the results of European bank stress tests.

Gold edged down on Wednesday as investors shifted some of their money into firming equities, while a drop in ETF holdings could prompt more selling as bullion struggles to hold above $1,190 an ounce. Although purchases from jewelers offered some support, trading was thin ahead of euro zone bank stress test results this week, which some analysts say could soothe concerns about how European banks would cope with deterioration in the region's economy and financial markets.

The euro inched up against the dollar on Wednesday, after being knocked from a 10-week high above $1.3000 the previous day due to profit-taking ahead of euro zone bank stress test results this week. Traders were also looking to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's semi-annual testimony before Congress on Wednesday and Thursday, with investors listening for any comments that could boost speculation about more monetary accommodation.

The euro inched up against the dollar on Wednesday, after being knocked from a 10-week high above $1.3000 the previous day due to profit-taking ahead of euro zone bank stress test results this week. Traders were also looking to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's semi-annual testimony before Congress on Wednesday and Thursday, with investors listening for any comments that could boost speculation about more monetary accommodation.

Gold prices eased in thin Asian trade Wednesday mainly on rising stocks despite the euro edged up against the dollar. Gold for immediately delivery was seen trading at $ 1190.64 an ounce at 11.30 a.m Singapore time while U.S. gold futures for August delivery was at $1,191.4 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange

Asian stocks rose on Wednesday as investors cheered Apple's strong earnings and on optimism that China may roll back policy tightening measures later this year, while the euro firmed ahead of euro zone's bank stress test results late in the week.

Increased housing commitments swelled U.S. taxpayers' total support for the financial system by $700 billion in the past year to around $3.7 trillion, a government watchdog said on Wednesday.

BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward will step down within the next 10 weeks, the Times newspaper reported, as the company battles to remain independent after the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward is to step down within the next 10 weeks, The Times reported on Wednesday.

BP Plc said on Tuesday it reached a deal to sell $7 billion in assets to Apache Corp as the British oil company raises money to cover costs related to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Yahoo Inc missed Wall Street's revenue estimates in the second quarter as some customers unexpectedly cut spending on online display ads toward the end of June, and shares fell more than 6 percent.

More than 40 employees at mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac received special perks on mortgage loans from Countrywide as part of its former CEO's special VIP program, a top Republican U.S. lawmaker said on Tuesday.

U.S. and Chinese officials kicked off new talks on Tuesday on a thorny trade issue at the center of Western government and industry concerns that China is becoming less open to foreign firms.

The Australian Dollar has opened higher after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) said the next rate movement was all but dependent on official inflation data due next week.

On Wednesday, JPMorgan Chase & Co Chief Executive Jamie Dimon will be left out in the cold.

The Aussie sprung to life either side of the Reserve Bank release of the July board meeting minutes moving to an intraday high of 0.8745 before slipping back towards US87 cents.

Nokia Siemens Networks has won an eight-year contract worth more than $7 billion with an upstart U.S. operator looking to build a high-speed wireless network to offer wholesale services in the fiercely competitive market.

U.S. stocks rose for a second consecutive day on Tuesday, led by gains in shares of Goldman Sachs and strength in beaten-down homebuilders and raw materials companies.