ECONOMY & MARKETS

The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market gainers are: ZST Digital Networks, Flow International, Spreadtrum Communications, Allos Therapeutics, and G-III Apparel Group. The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market losers are: Cerus, Energy Recovery, Marvell Technology Group, EV Energy Partners, and WPP.

The companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trade on Friday are: Capital One Financial, Deere & Co, Chesapeake Energy, Bank of America, Apple, Massey Energy, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs.

The Chinese yuan rose 0.1 percent against dollar on Friday as markets speculated that Chinese monetary policy would tighten in view of the rising inflation and the prospect of social unrest.

Shares of PetSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ: PETM) touched a new 52-week high of $43.39 on Thursday. The company reported a 20 percent growth in fourth quarter earnings on Tuesday, helped by more customer transactions and a strong holiday season.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to a higher opening on Friday ahead of key monthly non-farm payrolls and unemployment data from the government.

The top after-market NYSE gainers on Thursday are: Lsb Industries, Omega Protein, Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Cooper Companies and Radioshack. The top after-market NYSE losers are: NCR Corp, NeoPhotonics, Newcastle Investment, DCP Midstream Partners and Dynex Capital.

U.S. stocks ended sharply higher on Thursday as stronger than expected initial jobless claims data and an easing of oil prices after reports of a possible peace deal in Libya buoyed sentiment.

The top after-market NASDAQ stock market gainers are: Spreadtrum Communications, Identive Group, Allos Therapeutics, Flow International, and SuperMedia. The top after-market NASDAQ stock market losers are: Energy Recovery, Marvell Technology Group, Dot Hill Systems, BSQUARE, and EV Energy Partners.

Shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: VRTX) touched a new 52-week high of $50.83 on Thursday. The company announced positive interim results on Wednesday from a Phase 2 two-part study of 'telaprevir' combination therapy for treatment of hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus, also known as HCV-HIV co-infection.

Even though 130 of China’s current 175 existing airports lost money last year, they will be going ahead with plans over the next five years to add 45 more airports, according to Yahoo! News. The new airports will be expected to meet the rising tourism boom in the country of over 1.3 billion people.

Yujiapu does not roll off the tongue like Wall Street, but planners in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin hope it soon will.

U.S. stocks rallied on Thursday as stronger than expected initial jobless claims data and an easing of oil prices after reports of a possible peace deal in Libya buoyed sentiment.

South Africa's rand retreated against the dollar on Thursday after jumping nearly two percent the previous day, while market anticipation of increased supply weighed on government bonds.

When crude prices fall, oil companies tend to pass on the reductions -- albeit grudgingly -- to motorists. In most of Africa, the same cannot be said of interest rates.

What's next for John Paulson, the man who brilliantly bet against the subprime mortgage market?

U.S. stocks rallied in early trade on Thursday as stronger than expected initial jobless claims data and an easing of oil prices after reports of a possible peace deal in Libya buoyed sentiment.

U.S. stocks advanced in early trade on Thursday after official data showed that applications for jobless benefits in the U.S. fell unexpectedly last week to reach the lowest level since May 2008, indicating an improving labor market.

If Yahoo decides to divest its Japanese assets, then it might look to monetize its assets in china as well, where it owns about 40 percent of the Internet company Alibaba Group.

China will further expand its yuan settlement program for exporters across the country, reported the People’s Daily, citing a statement from the central bank. At the end of last year, 67,000 exporters already participated in the program.

The companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trade on Thursday are: Williams Companies, Keycorp, Big Lots, Dow Chemical, Corning, Micron Technology, Salesforce.com, Carnival, Nvidia and Family Dollar Stores.

The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market gainers are: Global Defense Technology & Systems, DUSA Pharmaceuticals, BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Nova Measuring Instruments, and Novavax. The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market losers are: Fuel Systems Solutions, Sigma Designs, YRC Worldwide, Perry Ellis International, and The Bancorp.

The European Central Bank (ECB) held the benchmark rate at a record low of 1 percent for the 23rd consecutive month.

Yahoo is said to be in talks to sell its 35 percent stake in Yahoo Japan, a move that will give Yahoo the necessary cash infusion to fight against arch rival Google and Facebook.

Futures on major U.S. indices point to a higher opening on Thursday ahead of economic data including key weekly jobless claims and non-farm productivity.

Gross domestic product (GDP) of the eurozone grew 0.3 percent in the last quarter of 2010, mainly boosted by exports from the region, according to the second estimates released by Eurostat on Thursday.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: VRTX) announced positive interim results on Wednesday from a Phase 2 two-part study of 'telaprevir' combination therapy for treatment of hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus, also known as HCV-HIV co-infection. The shares of the drugmaker touched a new 52-week high of $47.82 on Wednesday.

Futures on major U.S. indices point to a higher opening on Thursday ahead of economic data including key weekly jobless claims and non-farm productivity.

Most Asian stock markets ended higher on Thursday, helped by upbeat U.S. jobs data and an easing of oil prices after reports of a possible peace deal in Libya.

Shares of Xilinx Inc. (NASDAQ: XLNX) touched a new 52-week high of $34.90 on Wednesday.