ECONOMY & MARKETS

Shares of MasterCard Inc. fell almost 10 percent Friday after the company declined to forecast additional profit growth.

Gateway Inc. (NYSE: GTW) shares fell almost 10 percent Friday after the personal-computer maker reported a drop in revenue.

Shares of the first publicly listed U.S. hedge fund soared in early trading Friday, doubling on their opening day.

Apple Inc. was removed from the 'convicted buy' list of investment banks Goldman Sachs this morning, as the firm cited 'negative speculation' ahead of the June release of the iPhone.

A strong quarterly report by network equipment maker Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) provided strength in the technology sector Wednesday, and German chipmaker Infineon's (NASDAQ: IFX) deal with Nokia made it one the top tech movers of the day.

Boeing Co. (BA) shares continued to rally on Wednesday after air transport firm FedEx announced Tuesday that it had switched to Boeing freighters in response to the delay of the Airbus A380 Super Jumbo Jet.

Technology stocks rose in Tuesday noon trading, as industry titans Intel Corp. (INTC) and International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) lead the way with better than expected quarterly earnings.

Technology stocks fell in Tuesday noon trading.

The dollar hit a 5- month high against the yen on Monday as investors dumped the Japanese currency after it failed to hold on to gains following the BOJ tankan survey, which showed confidence at big manufacturers hitting a two-year high.

The dollar rose against major currencies on Friday as a slew of economic data eased investors' concerns about a sharp slowdown in the U.S. economy.

U.S. stocks may test record highs next week as muted oil prices take center stage. But the September jobs report on Friday could keep traders cautious and upend a rally.

Fixed income is likely to be less of an engine for profit growth for Wall Street firms as the United States housing market growth shows signs of slowing after two years of Federal Reserve interest rate hikes.

Instead of borrowing cheaply in global markets, Gulf oil and gas firms are seeking to promote Islamic finance, according to a report from Reuters.

The Ministry of Finance of Japan issued a business improvement administrative order to Fukuoka Stock Exchange and Sapporo Stock Exchange on Friday, questioning the operation of their market monitoring systems to prevent illegal trading and the quality of troubleshooting aids.

Wal-Mart said on Friday it will launch a 5-year plan to reduce the amounts of natural resources it uses for packaging by 5 percent.

Mortgage rates remained unchanged following the Federal Open Market Committee's decision to hold interest rates steady for a second straight month. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate remains 6.44 percent.

Britain's FTSE 100 pushed ahead on Thursday, buoyed by strong results and bullish earnings forecasts, but gains were capped by continued weakness in crude prices, hitting oil heavyweights and utilities.

U.S. shares looked set to open higher on Thursday, extending Wednesday's gains after relatively dovish comments from Federal Reserve policy makers, but worries about the extent of the U.S. slowdown may cap equity buying.

Earnings warnings are outpacing brighter outlooks at the end of this third-quarter at nearly the same rate they were last year when Hurricane Katrina jolted the U.S. Gulf Coast.

The Dubai Stock index slipped further on Tuesday, falling to its lowest level this month, as Gulf investors booked profits and positioned themselves for the third quarter results season.

The Thai baht staged its largest one-day fall in three years on Tuesday after Thai armed forces said they had taken control of Bangkok, which led to a broad-based decline in a number of Asian currencies.

Malaysia's financial markets regulator said Tuesday it is investigating allegations of manipulation of shares on the country's stock exchange, but it would not say whether the probe includes activities by a U.S.-based hedge fund.

Euro zone government bonds tumbled and the euro edged higher on Monday after hawkish comments from European Central Bank officials, while European stocks tracked Asian markets higher.

The Nikkei average sagged 0.47 percent on Friday as a government downgrade of its view on private consumption and exports spurred selling, but Advantest Corp. and other chip stocks rose, curbing market losses.

U.S. shares are expected to rise again on Monday, underpinned by hopes that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged at its policy-setting meeting on Wednesday, and as oil prices stayed below $64 a barrel.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said on Monday a strong U.S. dollar was in the interest of the United States and he was not seeking any quick fixes on China's currency situation.

UK stocks edged up on Monday, led by mining stocks based on higher commodity prices.

Investors who earned big returns in the wake of Hurricane Katrina may want to reassess their storm-related plays now that new contracts for repair work on the U.S. Gulf Coast have slowed.

Some of America's most prominent investment firms loaded up on shares in dozens of public companies even as the U.S. government stepped up probes into those companies use of option grants.