GLOBAL MARKETS

The dollar slipped against most major currencies on Monday, reversing some recent strong gains ahead of an expected U.S. interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve this week.

Stocks headed for a higher open on Monday, with financial shares set to lead gains after news of the latest large capital injection into a major bank by wealthy investors.

U.S. stocks on Friday, finished with a 2 percent weekly gain although investors remained cautious about next week's policy-setting meeting by the Federal Reserve.

The dollar rose again versus the yen on Friday after a U.S. government report showed employers added more jobs than expected in November, easing concerns about a possible recession.

U.S. stocks ended nearly flat on Friday after the U.S. government reported slower job growth than expected and a boost in inflation.

Hong Kong stocks on Thursday increased for a seventh straight session after a U.S. jobs report indicated growth in the jobs market, easing worries about a recession.

Treasuries fell on Thursday after President George W. Bush announced a plan to help some homeowners with subprime mortgages by freezing their interest rates, discouraging investors from buying U.S. debt.

The euro rose against the yen and dollar on Thursday after the head of the European Central Bank, Jean Claude Trichet, reduced speculation of a rate cut, warning about inflationary pressure.

U.S. stocks rose steadily for a second day on Thursday, with financial shares climbing on expectations that government plan to be unveiled today may help banks’ profits by limiting subprime mortgage defaults.

The euro rose against the dollar and the yen on Thursday after the European Central Bank left interest rates on hold but President Jean-Claude Trichet warned of strong upward pressure on inflation.

Stocks gained on Thursday as banks, builders and mortgage-related shares rose before a White House announcement about a plan to slow the wave of home foreclosures that has rattled investors.

European stocks extended gains while sterling slipped across the board as the Bank of England cut interest rates, joining other central banks in an attempt to counter the risk of an economic slowdown from the credit crisis.

U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday after a government report said the labor market is strong, easing some worry about a looming economic slowdown.

The dollar rose against major currencies on Wednesday after a U.S. government reports showed strong job growth, more factory orders and productivity gains.

The dollar fell against major currencies on Tuesday amid concerns about company earnings, a lower U.S. market, an interest rate cut in Canada and the latest address from the Federal Reserve.

U.S Stocks fell for a second day Tuesday, as major stocks fell on news of deteriorating credit markets.

Jitters about the U.S. economy and the credit crisis kept investors away from riskier assets on Tuesday, sending stocks sharply lower and boosting the Japanese yen against higher-yielding currencies.

The yen gained against the dollar and higher-yielding currencies for a second day on Tuesday as escalating concerns about credit turmoil prompted investors to cut back on risky positions.

Stocks fell on Tuesday after a brokerage cut its earnings outlook for major Wall Street companies and as uncertainty about the outlook for a credit crisis recovery mounted.

US stocks were nearly flat on Monday after dropping earlier following comments by Eric Rosengren, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President, said the economy's expansion will slow down.

Japan's Nikkei average took a breather on Monday after gaining more than 5 percent the previous week, as exporters such as Canon Inc slipped on a slightly stronger yen.

The yen gained broadly on Monday as investors cut exposure to risk amid expectations of widening financial sector losses tied to the U.S. subprime market.

Stocks were little changed on Monday after comments by the Treasury Secretary that a mortgage aid plan was in the works helped offset declines after a report showing slower growth in manufacturing last month.

Shares in Adidas rose more than 3 percent on Monday as traders cited market talk that U.S. rival Nike and Japanese sports shoe maker Asics were interested in the German company.

Wall Street's rebound from its first full-fledged correction in more than four years could continue this week if investors believe a plan to keep millions of Americans from losing their homes can work.

Asian stock markets mostly rose on Monday as financial shares extended gains on hopes of further U.S. interest rate cuts, but some technology stocks eased after Dell Inc's disappointing outlook.

The Dow and S&P 500 rose on Friday, capping a dismal November with a four-day rally, as financial stocks rallied on optimism over a proposed rescue for struggling homeowners and on heightened expectations for more interest-rate cuts.

Dell, the world’s second-largest personal-computer maker, decreased $3.80 to $24.33, being viewed as the biggest drag on the S&P 500.

Consumer spending inched up by an unexpectedly small 0.2 percent last month and construction spending tumbled, according to reports on Friday that heightened concerns on the health of the economy.