GLOBAL MARKETS

The top after-market NASDAQ gainers Thursday were: Cost Plus, Corinthian Colleges, Zoltek Companies, Golar LNG Ltd, Ultratech, KIT digital, Healthways, Freightcar America, Fuel Systems Solutions and American Railcar Industries.

The top aftermarket NYSE losers Thursday were: Genesis Energy, Neustar, American Eagle Outfitters, Steelcase, Spansion, DSW, VimpelCom, Express and Cott Corp.

The top aftermarket NYSE gainers Thursday were: Range Resources, Ferro Corp, Petroquest Energy, CNF, McMoRan Exploration, IDT Corp, QEP Resources, Superior Energy Services, CONSOL Energy and USG Corp.

Stocks took a big step back Thursday after more signs pointing to weakening economic conditions in China and Europe spooked investors to make a run for safety.

The top after-market NASDAQ gainers Wednesday were: Alimera Sciences, Shoe Carnival, Origin Agritech, Smith & Wesson Holding, James River Coal and GRAVITY Co. The top after-market NASDAQ losers were: Sonic Corp., Herman Miller, China Lodging Group, Chinacast Education Corp, Intuit Inc and OmniVision Technologies.

Crude oil prices declined in European trade Thursday as sentiment was dampened after reports indicated a sharp slowdown in the Chinese manufacturing activity in March.

The top aftermarket NYSE gainers Wednesday were: Oxford Resource Partners, Sturm, Ruger & Co, Office Depot, Ethan Allen Interiors, Suntech Power Holdings and Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes. The top aftermarket NYSE losers were: Costamare, TRC Companies, Glimcher Realty Trust, Precision Drilling Corp, OfficeMax and Ralcorp Holdings.

Asian shares inched up Thursday but remained in ranges as investors waited for manufacturing data from China and the euro zone due during this session for more clues about the state of their economies.

It's almost unthinkable that the U.S. government will continue to sustain current levels of spending, and the reduction will lead to diminished profit margins of companies, asset manager James Montier of GMO writes.

Tobacco-related deaths have nearly tripled in the past decade and big tobacco firms are undermining public efforts that could save millions, a report led by the health campaign group the World Lung Foundation (WLF) said on Wednesday.

The companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trade on Wednesday are: L&L Energy, FSI International, Hartford Financial Services, Tecumseh Products, Oracle Corp, Bank of America Corp, Baker Hughes, Perfect World Co, Halliburton Co and ARIAD Pharmaceuticals.

Asia shares continued to fall amid lingering worries about China growth. In Japan, shares declined for the first time in six sessions.

The top after-market NASDAQ gainers Tuesday were: On Assignment, FSI International, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Warren Resources, Vical Inc, K-Swiss, Ambassadors Group, American Superconductor and Idenix Pharmaceuticals.

The top after-market NASDAQ losers Tuesday were: EMCORE Corp, Rex Energy Corp, Pacific Biosciences of California, CoBiz Financial, West Marine, Bank Mutual Corp, Silicon Motion Technology, United Community Banks, Cumulus Media and Builders FirstSource.

U.S. asset markets sold off Tuesday as investors interpreted new data from China to mean that country's economy might be slowing down faster than previously thought. Of paramount concern was a government report showing new home prices had recently declined in 45 of 70 major cities, with prices static in 21 other metropolitan areas.

Major indexes across Europe were down Tuesday on negative news regarding an expected slowdown in Chinese economic growth.

The top after-market NASDAQ losers Monday were: Adobe Systems, Salem Communications, Websense, Retail Opportunity Investments, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Otter Tail Corp, Amerigon Inc, TiVo, Autodesk and Cirrus Logic.

The top aftermarket NYSE gainers Monday were: Michael Kors Holdings Ltd, Enersys, SunTrust Banks, Lions Gate Entertainment Corp, SunCoke Energy and Headwaters. The top aftermarket NYSE Losers were: Regency Energy Partners, Excel Maritime Carriers, Roundy's, Williams-Sonoma, Beazer Homes USA and Mueller Water Products.

The top after-market NASDAQ gainers Monday were: Gordmans Stores, Neutral Tandem, Celldex Therapeutics, Openwave Systems, Focus Media Holding, Xyratex, Cal-Maine Foods, Mid-Con Energy Partners, Hercules Offshore and Steel Dynamics.

Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) downloaded $45 billion, to borrow a phrase from the Financial Times, to its shareholders Monday, lifting both its own stock and the already buoyant broader market.

European markets lost ground as the lack of positive catalysts prompted a pause in the recent string of gains, while Asian stocks were mostly higher.

Consumers didn't get the escape velocity memo, the one that says economic and financial things are getting better and better. A Thomson Reuters/Univ. of Michigan survey released Friday found consumer sentiment down, especially on expectations for the next six months.

The prominent economist's main fear isn't the European debt crisis, a hard landing in China or faltering U.S. economic growth but a possible military showdown between Iran and Israel. A war in the Middle East could send oil prices soaring and cause a global recession.

The top after-market NASDAQ losers Thursday were: Primo Water Corp, Deer Consumer Products, Star Scientific, TICC Capital Corp, SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Hercules Offshore, BGC Partners, Sky-mobi Ltd, First Financial Bancorp and KIT digital.

The top aftermarket NYSE gainers Thursday were: Frontline Ltd, Excel Maritime Carriers, Glatfelter, Oxford Resource Partners, Dole Food Co and Peabody Energy Corp. The top aftermarket NYSE losers were: Winnebago Industries, RealD Inc, Capital One Financial Corp, Teekay Corp, E.W. Scripps Co and New York Times Co.

The top after-market NASDAQ gainers Thursday were: Cogo Group, Perfect World Co, Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Pantry, Halozyme Therapeutics, Consolidated Water Co, Neurocrine Biosciences, Merge Healthcare Inc, Cleantech Solutions International and Ituran Location and Control.

Experts are blasting U.S. Treasurys as bad investments because of their limited upside potential and serious downside risk.

The top after-market NASDAQ gainers Wednesday were: Online Resources, Tessera Technologies, NxStage Medical, Digital River, Washington Federal, Monolithic Power Systems, iGATE Corp, Theravance, Transcept Pharmaceuticals and Shuffle Master.

The top aftermarket NYSE gainers Wednesday were: Callon Petroleum, Newcastle Investment, Covanta Holding, Rite Aid Corp, Office Depot and Basic Energy Services. The top aftermarket NYSE losers were: Guess?, YPF SA, SandRidge Permian Trust, Monster Worldwide, WMS Industries and Primus Telecommunications Group.