GLOBAL MARKETS

Stocks fell on Monday as bank shares declined on fears of bigger-than-expected loan losses related to housing, while a drop in crude oil prices hurt energy shares.

Bank Citigroup will list its shares in Tokyo as early as November as part of the financial giant's push into the world's second-largest economy, sources familiar with said.

The dollar slid to a 15-year low against a basket of currencies on Monday after data showing U.S. employers cut jobs for the first time in four years stoked expectations for a hefty Federal Reserve rate cut this month.

Friday's news of a buckling U.S. job market sent stock investors running for the exits, and this week promises to be no less stressful as investors grapple with the increasing possibility of an economic recession.

The dollar slid to a 15-year low against major currencies on Friday as data showed U.S. payrolls fell last month for the first time in four years, raising recession fears and pressure for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates.

Stocks tumbled on Friday, driving major indexes down nearly 2 percent, as data showing the first monthly drop in payrolls in four years stoked fears on Wall Street that the economy was headed into recession.

Shares in HSBC Holdings nudged higher early on Friday after U.S. activist investor Knight Vinke Asset Management made acall for Europe's biggest bank to review its strategy.

The dollar fell to a one-month low on Thursday as rising mortgage delinquencies and ongoing credit concerns stoked fear of slower U.S. economic growth ahead of a keenly awaited employment report.

U.S. stocks and Treasury bond prices fell on Thursday after a stronger-than-expected reading of the U.S. services sector and a lower jobless claims number suggested the U.S. economy may not warrant a Federal Reserve interest-rate cut.

U.S. stocks rose on Thursday, helped by an upbeat earnings outlook and favorable news in the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors, while economic data eased worries about a possible recession.

The Nikkei average closed 0.6 percent higher on Thursday, after hitting its lowest level in a week, as telecoms including KDDI Corp gained on a bullish brokerage report and steel stocks rose on better outlooks.

The euro steadied versus the yen on Thursday after the European Central Bank held rates at 4 percent as expected, as the market awaited a post-decision news conference with ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet.

European shares fell and sterling slipped after the Bank of England said it was too early to tell how recent market turbulence would affect companies and households, and left interest rates on hold.

Shares in some of the biggest U.S. entertainment and media companies fell on Wednesday after Goldman Sachs downgraded its view on the sector to cautious from neutral due to concerns about the U.S. economic slowdown.

Stocks fell on Wednesday after data showed deterioration in the employment and housing markets, underscoring concern that problems of the subprime mortgage market were spreading to the wider economy.

The Nikkei average fell 1.6 percent on Wednesday as property shares including Sumitomo Realty & Development fell on concern about a slowing real estate market while worries about subprime debt hurt banks.

European shares fell on Wednesday with financial stocks lower on renewed concern about the extent of the credit crisis. This offset gains in oil stocks while investors turned cautious ahead of U.S. economic data.

World stocks slipped and Wall Street looked set for a poor start on Wednesday as investors cut back on risky assets and sought safety to assess how recent market turmoil has affected the real economy.

Shares of Sony Corp jumped on Wednesday after the electronics conglomerate said it would list shares of its financial arm on the Tokyo Stock Exchange next month after raising up to $3 billion in an initial public offering to fund its core electronics business.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has made an official request for help to Germany's Justice Ministry in its investigation into suspected bribery and corruption at Siemens, a newspaper said.

Stocks jumped on Tuesday, helped by optimism about the outlook for technology spending and gains in oil prices that lifted energy shares.

The Nikkei average lost 0.6 percent on Tuesday on caution ahead of a wave of U.S. economic data, while clothing company Fast Retailing Co Ltd extended its slide after announcing further acquisition plans.

U.S. stock index futures indicated a weaker open on Wall Street on Tuesday before a key economic report forecast to show a dip in manufacturing activity last month.

Oil held above $74 on Tuesday, as investors tracked a potentially catastrophic hurricane threatening Central America and OPEC stuck to supply curbs ahead of its meeting next week.

The yen strengthened on Tuesday as softer equity markets ahead of a flurry of U.S. data signaled a return to risk aversion for nervous markets, leading investors to unwind carry trade positions.

Britain's leading shares rose on Monday in thin volumes as comments by Barclays eased concerns over its financial health, helping to underpin financial stocks.

World stocks made small gains and currency markets traded in a narrow range on Monday as many investors avoided taking strong positions during the U.S. Labor Day holiday with its accompanying lack of key economic news.

Shares in Britain's Barclays Plc, battered over the past two months, rose more than 3 percent on Monday after a weekend charm offensive helped further ease concerns over the bank's financial health.

U.S. Gulf of Mexico oil and natural gas producers were monitoring powerful Hurricane Felix as it churned through the Caribbean Sea on Sunday, but none had reported reduced offshore production or evacuated workers to onshore locations.