ECONOMY & MARKETS

Japan's Nikkei average rose 0.4 percent on Thursday, a day after closing at its lowest in nearly four months, as blue-chip exporters gained on the dollar's climb above 93 yen for the first time in six weeks. Astellas Pharma rose after Nikko Citigroup raised its rating on the stock to buy/medium risk from hold/medium risk, saying the drugmaker's upwardly revised targets for the year to ...

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed marginally lower on Wednesday as President Barack Obama's $275 billion plan to prop up the housing market failed to stem worries about the economy, and bleak housing data highlighted the deepening recession. Indexes see-sawed in a narrow range throughout the day, but the S&P and Nasdaq ultimately failed to hold gains despite bargain-hunting that sent investo...

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq edged lower on Wednesday, after bleak housing data overwhelmed President Barack Obama's $275 billion plan to prop up the housing market. * The Dow eked out a slight gain, narrowly avoiding a new bear-market low. * Adding to the somber mood, the Federal Reserve slashed its economic forecast for 2009, and several companies, including Deere & Co ,posted ...

NEW YORK - Stocks dipped in choppy trading on Wednesday as data pointing to yet more weakness in housing suggested the recession is worsening, offsetting a search for bargains following Tuesday's big market slide. Data showed U.S. housing starts and building permits dropped to record lows in January, with construction plans scrapped as unsold houses stood empty. Drags included shares of financ...

that is the rate of inflation that promotes maximum sustainable employment while also delivering reasonable price stability, Bernanke said. He said the long-run projections should help anchor the public's expectations about the future path of inflation in a way that could help prevent a self-feeding inflationary, or deflationary, psychology. Bernanke said aggressive steps the Fed had taken t...

NEW YORK - Stocks tumbled on Tuesday, pulling the benchmark S&P 500 index to its lowest in three months, after a regional manufacturing report fell to a record low and financial shares slid further on signs of more trouble for European banks. Dismal economic data from Japan added to the gloom and made oil prices sink. Energy shares were the biggest drag on the Dow and S&P stock indexes, ...

NEW YORK - Stocks tumbled at the open on Tuesday on concern that the recession is worsening and that efforts to stabilize the stricken global financial system may not be enough. A report showing that manufacturing production in New York state fell to a record low in February added to worries about the deepening recession among investors already fearful a new U.S. economic stimulus package won't...

to try to ease the deepening recession, but some have been criticized for putting national interests before trade commitments. ACT TOGETHER What shocks me, you see, what bothers me a bit is that in the international arena ... everyone agrees that we need to work and act together, IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn told France Inter radio. Then when everyone goes home, everyone has his nati...

Growing concerns about deteriorating emerging European economies hit European shares and the euro on Tuesday, driving capital to safer government bonds and gold.

World stocks and the euro fell on Monday while safer government bonds rose as dismal Japanese growth data and fresh concerns about the financial sector fanned worries about the deteriorating global economy.

Japan sank deeper into recession with its worst quarterly contraction in 35 years, data showed on Monday, its reliance on exports and soft domestic demand dragging down the world's second-largest economy.

In 1997/98, Asia fell into the economic abyss because of a dependence on inflows of foreign capital, which suddenly turned tail.

On Monday most Asian stock market indicators slumped as new figures revealed Japan's economy contracted the most in 35 years and Group of Seven finance ministers warned the global decline is likely to continue through most of the year.

The International Monetary Fund and the world's big development banks warned on Friday that emerging and developing countries that lack deep pockets to protect themselves against the crushing impact of a global financial crisis may need help soon.

On Friday Brazil's stocks rose as a rally in oil prices boosted commodity stocks, while the national currency also firmed as hopes for an imminent U.S. stimulus package raised investors' appetite for risk.

Stocks inched higher in choppy trade on Friday on optimism over the expected passage of an economic stimulus and government plans to shore up the housing market.

At the close of Thursday's trading, European shares closed at 1.5 percent lower with banks hit by doubts about the U.S. government plan to boost the financial system.

On Wednesday, London stocks closed slightly higher than expected despite the doubts and skepticism of worldwide investors of the viability of the U.S. governments' latest rescue plan for the struggling financial industry.

On Wednesday world markets fell following a steep sell-off on Wall Street as investors doubted the viability of the U.S. governments' latest rescue plan for the struggling financial industry with as much as $2 trillion in funding.

Wall Street gave back some of last week's big gains Monday as euphoria over the government's expected stimulus bill waned amid more grim corporate news.

U.S. stocks climbed on Wednesday after tumbling steeply Tuesday on worries that governments would be forced to take over banks to avoid a financial meltdown.

U.S. stock slumped Tuesday after President Barack Obama gave his inauguration speech on concerns the economic recession will deepen after dismal financial data.

The first full week of Wall Street in 2009 is Colorless,no huge shocks or happiness.

U.S. stocks opened mixed on Friday after a report that the U.S. unemployment rate climbed in December and that the jobs lost total in 2008 was the most since the end of World War II.

Experts forecast that the U.S. jobless rate likely climbed ranging from 6.9 to 7 percent in December, the highest level since 1993. Predictions estimate non-farm payrolls fell by 525,000 in December.

U.S. stocks fell the most in one month on Wednesday after a private jobs report showed U.S. employers slashed more jobs than forecasted in December, Intel Corp. lowered its outlook forecast and Alcoa Inc. said it plans to cut 13 percent of its workforce.

Wednesday's opening in Wall Street headed lower after Alcoa Inc. announced it will cut about 13 percent of its workforce.

U.S. stocks plunged sharply on Tuesday, sending the Dow Jones into a bear market as crude oil prices continued to rise causing financial stocks to tumble as more analysts reduced earnings estimates for banks.

U.S. stocks were mixed on Monday, dragged lower by financial shares on concern there could be more credit losses and while record oil prices topped $143 a barrel.