The Nikkei average closed 0.6 percent higher on Thursday, after hitting its lowest level in a week, as telecoms including KDDI Corp gained on a bullish brokerage report and steel stocks rose on better outlooks.
The euro steadied versus the yen on Thursday after the European Central Bank held rates at 4 percent as expected, as the market awaited a post-decision news conference with ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet.
European shares fell and sterling slipped after the Bank of England said it was too early to tell how recent market turbulence would affect companies and households, and left interest rates on hold.
Shares in some of the biggest U.S. entertainment and media companies fell on Wednesday after Goldman Sachs downgraded its view on the sector to cautious from neutral due to concerns about the U.S. economic slowdown.
Stocks fell on Wednesday after data showed deterioration in the employment and housing markets, underscoring concern that problems of the subprime mortgage market were spreading to the wider economy.
The Nikkei average fell 1.6 percent on Wednesday as property shares including Sumitomo Realty & Development fell on concern about a slowing real estate market while worries about subprime debt hurt banks.
European shares fell on Wednesday with financial stocks lower on renewed concern about the extent of the credit crisis. This offset gains in oil stocks while investors turned cautious ahead of U.S. economic data.
World stocks slipped and Wall Street looked set for a poor start on Wednesday as investors cut back on risky assets and sought safety to assess how recent market turmoil has affected the real economy.
Shares of Sony Corp jumped on Wednesday after the electronics conglomerate said it would list shares of its financial arm on the Tokyo Stock Exchange next month after raising up to $3 billion in an initial public offering to fund its core electronics business.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has made an official request for help to Germany's Justice Ministry in its investigation into suspected bribery and corruption at Siemens, a newspaper said.
Stocks jumped on Tuesday, helped by optimism about the outlook for technology spending and gains in oil prices that lifted energy shares.
The Nikkei average lost 0.6 percent on Tuesday on caution ahead of a wave of U.S. economic data, while clothing company Fast Retailing Co Ltd extended its slide after announcing further acquisition plans.
U.S. stock index futures indicated a weaker open on Wall Street on Tuesday before a key economic report forecast to show a dip in manufacturing activity last month.
Oil held above $74 on Tuesday, as investors tracked a potentially catastrophic hurricane threatening Central America and OPEC stuck to supply curbs ahead of its meeting next week.
The yen strengthened on Tuesday as softer equity markets ahead of a flurry of U.S. data signaled a return to risk aversion for nervous markets, leading investors to unwind carry trade positions.
Britain's leading shares rose on Monday in thin volumes as comments by Barclays eased concerns over its financial health, helping to underpin financial stocks.
World stocks made small gains and currency markets traded in a narrow range on Monday as many investors avoided taking strong positions during the U.S. Labor Day holiday with its accompanying lack of key economic news.
Shares in Britain's Barclays Plc, battered over the past two months, rose more than 3 percent on Monday after a weekend charm offensive helped further ease concerns over the bank's financial health.
U.S. Gulf of Mexico oil and natural gas producers were monitoring powerful Hurricane Felix as it churned through the Caribbean Sea on Sunday, but none had reported reduced offshore production or evacuated workers to onshore locations.
European share indexes rose on Monday as remarks by executives of Barclays and Deutsche Bank eased fears of losses from the recent credit market turmoil, but utilities fell after news of a big French merger.
Japanese stocks slid on Monday as investors wary of credit woes sold some financial stocks following Friday's rises, while an unexpected drop in capital spending data put a lid on the overall market.
The dollar steadied versus the euro and yen on Monday at the start of a busy week for U.S. data which should shed light on the extent to which the credit markets turmoil is taking a toll on growth.
Asian stock markets took a breather on Monday with Tokyo's Nikkei slipping on fresh concerns about the economy, and the yen traded in a small range in a session likely to be dulled by the U.S. Labor Day holiday.
Stock markets ended one of the most volatile months in years on an impressive note, but this coming week still won't be any easier for investors as the employment report and housing turmoil remain high on radar screens.
U.S. stocks surged on Friday as President Bush and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke reassured investors they would do what was needed to shelter the economy from market turmoil. Banks and brokers, which have borne the brunt of the recent credit crisis, rose in thin trading before a long holiday weekend.
The Nikkei rose 2.6 percent on Friday as news that President George W. Bush will outline reforms to help homeowners with subprime mortgages sparked broad-based buying, and Dell Inc's earnings lifted high-tech stocks.
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a firmer opening on Friday, with all eyes on speeches by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and President George W. Bush, both expected by analysts to touch on the U.S. subprime crisis.
World stocks surged on Friday on hopes the U.S. government and central bank will act to alleviate a crisis in subprime, or poor credit quality, U.S. mortgages and ease a global bank lending squeeze the problem has triggered.
U.S. stocks fell on Thursday on mounting concerns that credit market upheaval will erode bank profits and hold back consumer spending, but optimism about corporate investment helped lift technology shares.
The U.S. commercial paper market shrank again last week and has lost 11 percent of its value in just a month, according to Federal Reserve data showing credit markets remain troubled.
