ECONOMY & MARKETS

The amount of lumber being moved through America's intercity rail system suggests a stronger-than-witnessed housing recovery could be just around the corner, according to London-based economics research company Capital Economics.

U.S. homebuilder stocks rose Monday after a report indicated that more builders viewed the housing market favorably in June, with confidence hitting the highest level since May 2007.

This week's data releases highlight Wednesday's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) statement, which will likely present a dovish tone. However, those who are expecting for the announcement of renewed asset purchases will likely be disappointed.

Futures on the major U.S. indices point to a mixed opening Monday as concerns about the euro zone debt crisis undermined the initial optimism following the Greek elections in which pro-bailout parties won the majority.

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

Asian markets rose Monday as investors were relieved after the pro-bailout parties won Sunday's elections in Greece.

Crude oil futures gained Monday after pro-bailout parties won a slim majority in Greece's general election over the weekend.

Stock markets in China and Hong Kong gained Monday as sentiment was buoyed after the news that pro-bailout parties in Greece gained sufficient votes to form a government.

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose Monday as investor concerns were eased following the Greek election in which pro-bailout parties won the majority.

Certain financial-market commentators were -- er, uh -- commentating either early Monday or late Sunday (depending on one's global positioning) about a relief rally in this market or that market allegedly propelled by Greece's election results, which suggest the euro zone will not be falling apart. This week, anyway.

Papandreou believes that given enough time, the Greeks would be able to adhere to bailout terms.

Asian stock markets advanced for the second straight week on expectations that major central banks in the world would act to tackle deteriorating global economic conditions.

Executive compensation continued to rise last year -- despite Occupy Wall Street's vociferous howling and gnashing of teeth -- and on average the pay of CEOs at S&P 500 companies increased 6 percent, according to a report by compensation-data company Equilar.

The top after-market NYSE gainers Friday were: Telecom Argentina, Banco Macro, Black Hills, World Wrestling Entertainment and Vocera Communications. The top after-market NYSE losers were: Magnum Hunter Resources, Perini Corp, Beazer Homes, Yelp and GFI Group.

Asian markets rose this week amid hopes that central banks around the world will take coordinated stimulus measures to tackle the European financial crisis and regain global economic growth momentum.

There are fresh signs the U.S. economy may be caught in a storm fed by a floundering Europe and a slackening China. Weakening demand in both regions appears to be taking a toll on U.S. manufacturing, already the locus of a contracting workforce.

Ahead of what is likely to be a week full of drama, stomach-churning market action, and violence in the streets of Athens, a German documentary is making the rounds online outlining the severe socioeconomic dysfunction that led Greece to its current state of affairs.

Americans love chicken and sauces, and Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. (Nasdaq: BWLD) is happy to provide them -- the company sold a record 7.7 million chicken wings during this year's Super Bowl alone.

A trip to Greece in the coming weeks may feel like an intrusion -- a sojourn into a land of private grief and public fury. But not visiting only makes things worse.

Wall Street's pessimistic outlook on corporate profits was proved wrong by surprisingly strong first-quarter results. However, will the second-quarter earnings season tell a different story?

Poland looks to shale exploration, despite concerns over fracking.

Manufacturing in the New York region hardly expanded in June as orders and sales cooled, the New York Federal Reserve's Empire State Manufacturing Survey showed Friday.

Royal Bank of Scotland Group, Nokia Corp, Navistar International, Sohu.com, Facebook, JPMorgan Chase, Alcoa and GlaxoSmithKline are among the companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trading Friday.

US Airways has been very publicly circling AMR Corp., the bankrupt parent of American Airlines. Yet industry experts expressed concerns that, while a potential merger would be a boon to the labor unions, the flying public would end up footing the bill.

Crude oil futures advanced Friday as sentiment was buoyed on expectations that the major central banks around the world would act to strengthen the global economy.

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

Asian markets rose Friday as investor confidence was boosted by expectation for stimulus measures from policymakers globally.

Stock markets in Hong Kong and China advanced Friday as weak U.S. economic data and worsening euro zone crisis raised hopes that the major central banks would act to tackle deteriorating global economic conditions.

The top after-market NYSE gainers Thursday were: YPF SA, Old Republic International, Tenet Healthcare, JinkoSolar Holding and Valspar Corp. The top after-market NYSE losers were: SandRidge Mississippian, AAR Corp, Regis Corp, WMS Industries and Standard Pacific Corp.