ECONOMY & MARKETS

Asian stock markets mostly advanced Wednesday on hopes that major central banks around the world would act to tackle the deteriorating global economic conditions.

Indian stock markets were trading slightly lower Wednesday as declines from oil & gas and IT sector shares outweighed the gains in metal and realty sectors.

European markets fell Wednesday, but investors continued to expect that the central banks would coordinate to announce stimulus measures to regain the growth momentum.

India's service sector continued its growth in June, though at a slightly slower rate than in May, according to the latest HSBC PMI data released Wednesday.

Crude oil futures declined during Asian trading hours Wednesday after surging in the previous session on renewed tensions over Iran's nuclear program.

Though China's services activity grew in June, it declined to a ten-month low, according to the HSBC Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) released Wednesday.

Asian markets rose Wednesday as investors continued to be hopeful that central banks all over the world would soon announce stimulus measures to tackle the weakening global economy.

Two of real estate's biggest landlords are gearing up for more acquisitions in moves that could help stabilize local housing markets.

U.S. car sales revved up again in June after lackluster May sales numbers as consumers continued to flock to dealer lots to replace aging vehicles and buy new trucks and crossover SUVs.

Nissan Motor Co. (Tokyo: 7201) June U.S. car sales rose 28.2 percent on gains for almost every model in the Nissan lineup.

California, the state with the second most foreclosures by volume, has passed one of the strongest laws in the country seeking to protect homeowners from improperly losing their homes.

The U.S.A. remains the world's richest country, with more wealth than the combined treasures of the next four richest nations -- Japan, China, Germany and the UK. And most of its wealth comes from the potential of its people.

June U.S. car sales rose across the board, surging above the 14 million unit seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of sales after a lackluster May, indicating a continued recovery for the industry that will likely carry through the second half.

The British Parliament, might not be the place one would expect to see fireworks lit on July 4. But that's what's likely to happen Wednesday, when the former CEO of Barclays plc (NYSE:BCS), who resigned Tuesday, is expected to tell the House of Commons its fraud was partly done at the bequest of the Bank of England.

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) reported 15.5 percent year-over-year U.S. sales growth in June and the best sales month for the company since September 2008.

Ford reported Tuesday that June sales rose 7 percent over the year before driven by strong sales of trucks and SUVs.

Detroit?s carmakers saw strong June U.S. car sales with Chrysler Group LLC, a subsidiary of Italian Fiat SpA (Milan: F), reporting 20 percent year-over-year sales growth and Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) reporting more modest 7 percent sales gains.

As the Midwest teeters from the impact of one of the most damaging heat waves in U.S. history, declining yields on crops could hurt the public by raising food and commodity prices to staggering proportions, according to commodities trading data.

Chrysler Group LLC, a subsidiary of Italian Fiat SpA (Milan: F), reported June sales rose 20 percent compared to the year before, making it the best June sales month in five years.

The Indian rupee continued its forward rally for the fourth consecutive session, reaching a 1-month high of 54.81 against the dollar in the morning trading session Tuesday.

Asian stock markets advanced Tuesday as weak economic reports from around the world boosted hopes for stimulus measures from major central banks globally.

The U.S. labor market has lost a step since spring and the trend of lackluster job growth will likely continue into June.

Following the revelation last week that British banking giant Barclays was engaging in massive fraud meant to distort the Libor, the interest rate underpinning hundreds of trillions of dollars in credit transactions, politicians and regulators the world over are taking a sober look at the system. What they find may prove to be shocking.

Sun-drenched Arizona became a poster child for the overdevelopment excesses of the boom, but it's recently become a leader in the U.S.'s long-awaited housing recovery.

U.S. stock index futures point to a mixed opening Tuesday amid hopes that the Federal Reserve will announce stimulus measures to tackle the faltering economy and revive growth.

Barclays chief executive officer Bob Diamond Tuesday quit his post over the London Inter Bank Offered Rate (LIBOR) fixing scandal, in which the bank was fined £290 million ($450m) by the U.S. and UK regulators last week.

Crude oil futures advanced Tuesday on fears that growing tensions between Iran and the West may threaten crude supplies from the Middle East.

European markets rose Tuesday amid expectation that central banks around the world would coordinate to announce stimulus measures to rejuvenate the global economic growth.

The top after-market NYSE gainers Monday were: BPZ Resources, Endeavor International, InvenSense, Radian Group and Synovus Financial. The top after-market NYSE losers were: Overseas Shipholding Group, Mueller Water Products, Capital Senior Living, Boise Inc and Phillips 66.