GLOBAL MARKETS

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to higher opening on Wednesday ahead of wave of economic data including producer price index and building permits.

A look at 5 key events that shaped the New York Stock Exchange from the 18th century till date

The top after-market NYSE gainers on Tuesday are: Verso Paper, Family Dollar, Aaron's, Dollar General and 99 Cents Only Stores. The top after-market NYSE losers are: Dice Holdings, Airgas, Dean Foods, Hanger Orthopedic Group and LSI Corp.

The top after-market NASDAQ stock market gainers are: ValueClick, American Capital, PC Mall, Life Partners Holdings, Photronics, and Dell. The top after-market NASDAQ stock market losers are: Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, ReachLocal, RC2, LogMeIn, and Rovi.

China will soon publish new regulations to increase supervision of the country's rare earth industry in a move that is likely to drastically change the landscape of the sector, the China Securities Journal informed on Wednesday.

French drug maker Sanofi-Aventis agreed to acquire U.S. biotechnology company Genzyme for $74.00 per share in cash or about $20.1 billion plus extra payments linked to experimental multiple sclerosis drug Lemtrada.

U.S. stocks slipped as retail sales raised doubts about the economic recovery. Energy and basic materials equities led the way downward, albeit in moderate trading volume.

South Africa's rand softened against the dollar on Tuesday with the market showing little inclination to resist central bank moves since the start of the year to weaken the currency.

The NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX) and Frankfurt’s Deutsche Boerse have entered into an agreement to merge in a $10-billion transaction that is expected to result in the world's biggest trading vehicle for stocks and derivatives.

U.S. stocks opened lower on Tuesday after the government report showed that retail sales rose less than forecast in January.

GM plans introduce more than 20 new and upgraded models over the next two years in China, saying the country plays an important role in the automaker's global strategy.

The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market gainers are: Limelight Networks, Insight Enterprises, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, DG FastChannel, and Mercer International. The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market losers are: Microvision, Anika Therapeutics, Ultra Clean Holdings, Cynosure, and Sirius XM Radio.

John Paulson, whose firm now oversees roughly $36 billion, again counted SPDR Gold Trust (GLD.P), AngloGold Ashanti (ANGJ.J), Citigroup (C.N) and Bank of America (BAC.N) as his top four holdings.

Gold was set for its largest one-day rise in a week, aided by a weaker dollar and Chinese inflation data that soothed some concern over the prospect of rapid rate rises in the world's second-largest bullion consumer.

The companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trade on Tuesday are: Marriott International, United States Steel, Analog Devices, Sprint Nextel, Nyse Euronext, Newmont Mining, Jds Uniphase and Netflix.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to modestly higher opening on Tuesday ahead of a wave of economic data including retail sales.

The companies which are expected to see active trade on Tuesday are: FedEx, Marriot International, Dell, Analog Devices, Omnicom Group, CenturyLink, Host Hotels & Resorts and Watson Pharmaceuticals.

The top after-market NASDAQ stock market gainers are: Limelight Networks, Insight Enterprises, Mercer International, Perry Ellis International, and Corinthian Colleges. The top after-market NASDAQ stock market losers are: Anika Therapeutics, Carmike Cinemas, Ultra Clean Holdings, Nasdaq OMX Group, and First Business Financial Services.

Shipping giant FedEx slashed its third quarter profit forecast by 25 cents, blaming higher fuel prices and disruptions from winter storms in the U.S. and Europe.

Retail brokerage Charles Schwab Corp scored the highest points in customer satisfaction in the US last year, overtaking Fidelity Investments for the first time, an online survey showed.

The top after-market NYSE gainers on Monday are: Marriot International, PMI Group, Aspen Insurance Holdings, Sandridge Energy and United Microelectronics. The top after-market NYSE losers are: Gray Television, Masco, DCT Industrial Trust, Mack-Cali Realty and Titanium Metals.

U.S. stocks ended narrowly mixed as investors appeared to be underwhelmed by President Obama’s budget proposal, while unrest in the Middle East has spread to Iran and even Bahrain.

Stocks finished narrowly mixed as investors appeared to be underwhelmed by President Obama’s budget proposal, while unrest in the Middle East has spread to Iran and even Bahrain.

Egypt's stock exchange, shut since January 27 because of political unrest, will not reopen until Wednesday, a bourse official said on Saturday.

Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) has retained its status as the “most respected” public company in the world, as selected by a group of U.S. money managers in a survey conducted by Barron’s magazine.

RBC Capital Markets said in its skilled nursing facilities Q4 earnings preview that pre-announced upsides for the quarter and better-than-expected 2011 guidance combined with Kindred Healthcare Inc.'s (KND) fourth quarter results on the RehabCare Group (RHB) deal announcement, suggest a bright outlook in the near term under Resource Utilization Group, Version Four (RUG-IV).

U.S. stocks opened modestly lower on Monday as investors awaited the release of President Obama's budget.

The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market gainers are: Hercules Offshore, Openwave Systems, STEC, EMCORE, and Falconstor Software. The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market losers are: Seahawk Drilling, MannKind, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Hughes Communications, and Interphase.

The companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trade on Monday are: Nvidia, Expedia, Freeport-McMoRan, Netflix, Nokia, GameStop, Clorox and Wal-Mart Stores.