GLOBAL MARKETS

Chinese firms may for the first time face major currency risks in the coming year - not only because the yuan is rising but because officials are shifting more responsibility for risk from the government to companies.

Following a tumultous week, investors are wondering what lessons can be learned.

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Oil prices topped $78 per barrel Friday and held near record highs as intensifying violence in the Middle East raised concerns of possible supply disruptions.

Leading British shares dropped 1 percent on Thursday, as escalating geopolitical tensions, record high oil prices and concerns over U.S. corporate profits sent jitters through global equity markets, while a decline in Aviva Plc shares also weighed.

Offering yields not seen in years, savings accounts, certificates of deposits and money market funds are enticing investors rattled by the recent gyrations in stocks and bonds.

A U.S. Treasury market rally that has driven bond yields below the key inter-bank overnight lending rate may be the strongest signal yet from the bond market that the Federal Reserve has gone too far in its campaign to raise interest rates.

Oil prices are hovering near record highs, but you wouldn't know it by looking at the foreign exchange market.

After years of paltry yields in the high-yield junk bond market, of all places, investors are back in the sector with a vengeance, taking advantage of rising coupons.

How easily global equities bounce back from May-June losses is in large part dependent on how much of a bargain shares have become for investors, and that depends on what measure you choose to determine value.

The dollar fell on Friday after a tame measure of core U.S. inflation reinforced market expectations that the Federal Reserve may be nearing the end of its two-year-long monetary policy tightening cycle.

Britain's leading shares trekked higher on Friday, putting the FTSE 100 index on course for its biggest weekly gain in nearly eight months as miners and oil stocks charged higher.

Euro zone government bonds fell on Friday as investors focused on upcoming European Central Bank rate hike plans after the U.S. Federal Reserve hinted interest rates there may have peaked, which pushed up shares and forced the dollar down.

The Nikkei jumped 2.54 percent to finish at its highest close since June 5 on Friday as exporters such as Toyota Motor gained on rising hopes that the U.S. interest rate-hike cycle may be nearing an end, easing concern of a slowdown in the world's largest economy.

Britain's FTSE 100 share index hit a 3-week high on Thursday, fired up by strong resources and bank stocks, although trading levels were modest ahead of a U.S. interest rate decision. Banks saw HSBC and Royal Bank of Scotland gain 1.1 percent, while Barclays put on 1.5 percent.

The dollar edged higher across the board on Wednesday as investors awaited signals from the Federal Reserve on further interest rate hikes which may accompany a rise widely anticipated for later this week.

Financial markets stalled on Wednesday as uncertainty about when the Federal Reserve will end its monetary tightening campaign kept investors sidelined, while crude oil rose above $72 a barrel on worries about U.S. gasoline supplies.

The Nikkei fell 1.74 percent on Wednesday as tyre maker Bridgestone Corp. a day earlier cut its profit forecast citing higher raw material costs, pulling down its own shares and those of rivals and chemical makers.

Takeover action spurred UK stocks higher on Wednesday, with music group EMI surging after rejecting a bid from Warner Music and steelmaker Corus rising on talk of a possible offer from Russia's Severstal.

U.S. stock futures rose on Wednesday, suggesting a higher open on Wall Street before the start of the Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting, with energy shares set to lead the way.

U.S. Treasury debt prices slipped on Friday, dropping for the eighth straight day on expectations the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next week and perhaps again in August.

Stock markets rallied on Thursday on hopes that strong earnings will continue with mining companies among the top gainers on the back of a jump in commodity prices.

U.S. stock futures on Tuesday pointed to an uncertain start after two sessions of losses, with the housing sector in renewed focus ahead of housing starts data.

If bulls have their way next week, U.S. stocks could extend the rebound that has some on Wall Street hoping the worst is over after a month-long sell-off.

U.S. stocks slid on Friday after another warning from a Federal Reserve official about inflation, giving investors more reason to think the Fed will keep raising interest rates.

Asian markets rallied for a second day Friday, recovering from a plunge Tuesday that sent stocks in the region to their lowest levels in months.

The Canadian dollar fell hard against the the U.S. dollar on Friday after China's central bank decided to increase its reserve requirement, which triggered concerns about future demand for commodities.

A global sell-off in stocks that started in May is not over and may only be just starting, Abhijit Chakrabortti, global equity strategist at JPMorgan Chase & Co., said on Tuesday.

U.S. Treasuries were down slightly on Monday, ahead of a series of Federal Reserve speakers this session and before this week's inflation data, which could shed insight on the likelihood of a June rate hike.