GLOBAL MARKETS

Technology related stocks rose Friday afternoon while tax-maker Intuit stumbled after reporting a drop in second quarter profit.

U.S. stocks fell for a second day on Friday, with the tech and financial sector leading the decline as investors considered weak economic data that was released earlier this week. Indexes tumbled on Thursday after a weak regional manufacturing report added to concerns that the economy is headed for a recession, if not already in one.

Recent signs that the world's biggest economy may be sliding into recession unsettled European and Asian stocks on Friday, and helped push the dollar to a near three-week low versus a basket of currencies.

Japan stocks dropped sharply Friday affected by U.S. weakening economy and upward trend of yen currency.

Asian markets shed gains from the previous day in the wake of Wall Street's declines.

The dollar slipped on Thursday, still weighed down by minutes from the Federal Reserve's January policy meeting, which affirmed expectations of further U.S. interest rate cuts.

Wall Street ended higher on Wednesday after a choppy session, helped by gains in technology shares after Hewlett-Packard Co posted higher-than-expected earnings.

U.S. stocks gained on Tuesday for the first time in three days after Wal-Mart Stores Inc. released higher-than-expected fourth quarter results and energy stocks climbed led by oil which surpassed $98 a barrel.

European shares cut Tuesday's losses and rose as a turnaround in shares of Barclays boosted UK banks and U.S. stock futures extended gains.

The promise of a solid open on Wall Street after Wal-Mart signaled the U.S. consumer is still keen to spend helped set aside worries about hefty bank writedowns on Tuesday while oil and metal prices rose unabated.

European shares rose Monday as investors rushed to buy after recent volatility and selloffs, while Asian markets were mixed and U.S market was closed for a public holiday.

Shares in UK banks rose on Monday on hopes of higher dividends and after the British government decided to nationalize stricken mortgage lender Northern Rock.

European shares rose on Monday as gains in British banks and oil stocks helped investors recover some of the sharp losses suffered in the last session.

Asian stocks, which have been jittery this year at any ill omen from the U.S. market, are likely to take note on Monday of Wall Street's latest fall, while investors continue to keep an eye out for bargains.

Treasuries rose on Friday after a report on plummeting U.S. consumer sentiment and drops in New York manufacturing increased concerns about a U.S. recession.

U.S. stocks dropped for the first time this week on Thursday, after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke forecasted sluggish economic growth in 2008. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 175.3 points, or 1.4 percent, to end at 12,377, with all but one of its 30 components ending in the red.

Stock index futures were little changed on Wednesday, with investors cautious before retail sales data, which will be scrutinized for clues on the health of the consumer.

Copper futures fell in New York as inventories had a steep drop. Earlier copper had reached its highest price in three months on $3.5585 a pound.

Treasuries rose on Monday as investors sought safer investments after another sign of trouble in U.S. financial markets.

U.S. stocks rose on Monday after American International Group Inc. said it overstated the value of some financial assets boosting fresh concerns over the financial sector.

U.S. stocks ended mixed on Friday with the Dow Jones ending its worst week in almost five years as ongoing credit market woes dragged down the financial sector increasing anxiety over the broader economy. The Nasdaq, despite being down for the week, rose as investors snatched up the biggest names in technology which have recently been left affected. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones industrial average, which rose in earlier trading, fell more than 60 points.

Treasuries staged a comeback as safe-haven vehicles on Friday as greater risks of a U.S. recession raised the chance of a U.S. recession.

Stocks were slightly lower Thursday in mid-day trading after a volatile morning as investors worried over a lower outlook at networking equipment maker Cisco systems and a new report showed a further drop in home sales.

U.S. stocks retreated after the markets single-plunge in nearly a year on Wednesday after Philadelphia Federal Reserve President Charles Plosser said he was against overly aggressive rate cuts.

U.S. stocks tumbled the most in almost a year on Tuesday after service industries contracted at the fastest pace since 2001, adding to mounting concern the economy is already in a recession.

Long-term treasuries fell on Monday as investors shifted investment to riskier investments amid a flood of new notes this week and a reassessment of the U.S. economy.

U.S. stocks finished lower on Monday following last week's big rally, as investors trimmed positions caused by troubled financial sectors which suffered from several broker downgrades.

U.S. stocks markets closed out the week on an up note on Friday, ending Wall Street's best performing week in nearly five years, after Microsoft Corp's $44.6 billion bid for Yahoo Inc pushing technology stocks ahead of other sectors.

Treasuries rose on Thursday as investors looked to safer investments as reports released today showed signs of a weakening economy, boosting the chance that the Fed will lower borrowing costs.