GLOBAL MARKETS

Treasuries prices rose on Monday as investors looked for refuge in safer investments after a report stated U.S. business activity fell in March and a top government official unveiled a plan to overhaul financial regulation.

The FTSE 100 share index edged up on Monday by 9.2 points to 5,702.1 (up 0.16 per cent).

U.S. stock indexes rose for the first time in four days on Monday, despite big losses for pharmaceutical giant Merck, while lower oil prices improved business activity and a Treasury plan was announced to boost the economy against growing credit losses.

The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Sensex fell 4.44 percent on Monday, the last day of the financial quarter, to end the quarter of March down 22.9 percent, its biggest quarterly fall since the June 1992 quarter, as reports of rising inflation and global economic slowdown dampened market sentiments.

Japan Stocks decreased over 2 percent Monday because of uncertainty of the Japan and U.S. economy and selloff of Asian markets.

U.S. stocks fell in New York, failing to rebound from consecutive triple-digit losses on the Dow and extending the worst quarterly slump since 2002, as J.C. Penney Co. forecast weaker sales and concerns that further write downs may destabilize banks' access to capital.

U.S. stocks tumbled the most in a week, sending the blue-chip index more than 100 points into the red and the tech-heavy Nasdaq was dragged down by disappointing news from Oracle and Google.

Japan stocks Thursday continued to decline for a second straight day because of strong yen and U.S. economic fears.

Global market gloom pulled down the Sensex, the prime index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) by 0.8 percent, Wednesday, ending the four-day bull-run which saw the 30-stock benchmark index gain over 1000 points.

Shares of business software maker Oracle says its fiscal third-quarter profit rose, helped by rising software and services revenues, however its yearly revenue missed expectations of Wall-Street.

U.S. stocks dropped for the first time Wednesday in four days as an unexpected tumble in February factory orders sparked concerns over the economy while the outlook for bank profits worsened.

Japan stocks declined Wednesday as investors began worried about U.S. recession.

Treasuries rose on Tuesday after a private report showed U.S. consumer confidence declined in March and another report indicated a decline in housing prices.

Asian markets were mixed on Wednesday morning with Japanese shares slipping on stronger Yen prices, while commodity prices helped resource stocks in Australia.

U.S. stocks were mixed on Wednesday following a rally in commodity producers boosted the market to overcome downbeat data on housing and consumer sentiment.The S&P 500 added 2.56 points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,352.44 while the Dow increased 18.56 , or 0.2 percent, to 12,530.08. The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 12.54, or 0.5 percent, to 2,339.29. Seven stocks gained for every three that declined on the New York Stock Exchange.

Wall Street says recession, but economic data has yet to confirm the gloom

U.S. stocks gained on Thursday as declining gold and oil prices eased inflation concerns, while an analyst said more mortgage purchases by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will help stabilize the home-loan market causing them to surge for a third day on hopes they will stabilize the housing market.

U.S. stocks dropped on Wednesday, failing to extend the market's best day in nearly five years led mainly by energy and mining companies as oil dropped more than $4 a barrel while gold fell the most in nearly two years.

Affected by investor's worrying about interest rates rising, China's Shanghai Stock Exchange composite Index (SSI) fell 151.15 points,or 3.96 percent,to reach 3668.90 on Tuesday afternoon, which reached the 8-month-lowest record since July 2007. Shenzhen Stock Exchange component index fell 718.76 points,or 5.44 percent to reach 12489.02.

The FTSE 100 dropped a staggering 217.3 points down to 5,414.4 points (minus 3.9 per cent) on Monday following the shock sale of US bank Bear Stearns to rival JPMorgan Chase. The index finished at its lowest point since late 2005.

Japan stocks recovered 12,000 line Wednesday due to eased concerns for U.S. economy and a weaker yen after an overnight equity surge on Wall Street. Securities, iron and steel, high-tech issues were soared while oil companies and some insurance issues decreased.

U.S. stocks edged off earlier gains after the Federal Reserve announced its decision to lower its benchmark interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point in a bid to ease concerns that the US economy is slipping into a recession.

Record rise of crude oil and gold prices in global markets and growing concerns over the worsening credit crisis in the US triggered a Sensex collapse on Monday, allowing the benchmark 30-share index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) to hit a six month low and close below the psychological 15,000 level.

Treasuries rose on Monday after the Federal Reserve moved to add liquidity to the credit and financial markets with a pair of moves over the weekend and aid for struggling investment bank Bear Stearns.

Japan stocks plunged over 3 percent Monday as the Yen gained strength against the dollar and soaring fears of U.S. credit turmoil.

U.S. stocks dropped at the open on Monday after the Federal Reserve cut its discount interest rate at an emergency meeting and JP Morgan Chase & Co. agreed to buy Bear Stearns Cos. for $2 a share, fueling fears that the global credit crisis is spiraling out of control.

Sensex, the prime 30-share index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) staged a comeback on Friday and ended the week on a positive note, gaining 2.63 percent or 403.17 points, even as concerns persisted about weak US economy and subprime crisis.

U.S. Treasury note prices rose on Friday after amid continuing struggles in the financial sector as the Federal Reserve, through JPMorgan Chase, gave emergency funds to struggling investment bank Bear Stearns.

U.S. copper futures closed down erasing earlier gains on Thursday as investors worry that an economic recession in the United States could reduce demand for the metal.