GLOBAL MARKETS

A leading Asia-Pacific stock index hit a record high on Monday as shares took their cue from gains on U.S. markets late last week, though trading was light due to holidays in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

The dollar dipped to a 15-year low against a basket of currencies on Monday and hovered near a record low against the euro as investors shrugged off more gripes about the single currency's strength from French officials.

Treasuries ended the week on a more positive note on Friday, a turnaround following a selloff which began on Tuesday when the U.S. Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate to give a boost to the economy, setting off some inflation concerns.

Wall Street will watch next week for more ripples from the Federal Reserve's half-point cut in interest rates, including any deeper drop in the dollar, and any more spikes in the price of gold and oil.

U.S. stocks jumped on Friday as higher-than-expected results from software maker Oracle Corp and a share buyback from Texas Instruments Inc boosted technology shares.

The dollar rose marginally from a 15-year low against a basket of currencies on Friday, as investors debated whether the U.S. currency's decline has gone too far, too fast.

Japanese stocks slipped on Friday, weighed down by selling of exporters such as Canon Inc as the yen edged up against the dollar, with the Nikkei average closing down 0.6 percent.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Friday after Nike and Oracle reported higher-than-expected financial results, but trading was likely to be volatile as equity derivative contracts expired.

The cut in the United States’ interest rates would not stop China’s interest rate hike , and would not create greater difficulties to the country’s inflation, said an expert from Morgan Stanley.

The Canadian dollar traded equal to the U.S dollar for the first time in 31 years on Thursday and is expected to remain strong atop a five-year run on the nations booming commodities.

U.S. stocks fell for the first time in three days as a weakened dollar and higher oil prices kindled fresh concern about inflation.

The dollar sank to its lowest levels against the euro since Europe adopted the currency, and came to parity with the Canadian currency on Thursday.

The dollar continued on its downward spiral on Tuesday, falling to an all-time low against the euro and briefly reaching parity with the Canadian dollar for the first time in almost 30 years.

Stocks were little changed on Thursday as a weak outlook from economic bellwether FedEx and sharply lower profit from investment bank Bear Stearns helped stall a rally that followed this week's aggressive interest rate cut.

The dollar broke above $1.40 per euro for the first time on Thursday, weakened by a hefty U.S. interest rate cut this week and expectations of further cuts in benchmark rates.

Benchmark stock indexes looked likely to open lower on Thursday, index futures showed, and analysts said earnings from two top banks and remarks by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke would be in focus.

The dollar sank to a 15-year low against major currencies on Thursday while the euro rose above $1.40 for the first time as the impact of the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate cut continued to sweep across markets.

Shares in Northern Rock took a fresh hit on Thursday, tumbling over 20 percent on renewed concerns over its future, and as the government said its guarantees would not cover new accounts.

The dollar sank to fresh record lows beyond $1.40 per euro on Thursday, weighed down by a hefty U.S. interest rate cut earlier this week and expectations of more moves to come.

China Yangtze Power Co Ltd will issue the nation’s first corporate bond tomorrow, the China Securities News (CSN) reported today.

New Zealand's dollar rose to its highest level versus the dollar and yen in nearly a month following a drop in U.S. interest rates prompted a comeback for investments such as the carry trade.

The dollar was higher against most currencies during Wednesday U.S. trading, up from the lows seen yesterday.

Treasuries slid for the third day Wednesday amid expectations that inflation will continue to increase after the U.S. Federal Reserve’s move to lower interest rates.

U.S stocks rallied for a second day on Wednesday following the half a point drop in interest rates issued by the Federal Reserve yesterday.

Data surfacing on Wednesday indicates that consumer prices posted a rare decline in August, while the housing industry saw construction fall to the slowest pace in 12 years.

The dollar rose from a 15-year low against a basket of currencies on Wednesday as investors bet the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut on Tuesday will help boost a slowing U.S. economy.

U.S. Stocks rallied for a second day on Wednesday as investors bet the Federal Reserve's aggressive rate cut would help prevent an economic slowdown. Housing-related stocks such as home builders and mortgage finance companies were among the biggest percentage gainers in the S&P 500, a day after the Fed cut the benchmark interest rates by a half-percentage point.

Stocks rallied for a second day on Wednesday after an aggressive U.S. rate cut soothed concern the U.S. economy would slip into recession, stirring demand for riskier investments and killing demand for safe-haven bonds.

U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday, adding to the previous session's surge and lifting the Standard & Poor's 500 index by 1 percent, as investors bet the Federal Reserve's aggressive rate cut would help prevent an economic slowdown.