GLOBAL MARKETS

Investors obviously applauded the move, sending Morgan Stanley shares up 7.2 percent in Thursday’s trading.

Encana Corp Chief Executive Randy Eresman did exactly what investors wanted when he created the quintessential pure play in North American natural gas. That's now his biggest problem.

South Africa's government bonds reversed losses on Thursday and yields fell as investors drifted back into local debt to snap up bargains following a couple of days of heavy selling when risk aversion hit emerging markets.

Sales jumped 2.7 percent in the month to C$46.7 billion ($46.7 billion) following three straight months of declines and beating estimates of a 1.3 percent gain, Statistics Canada said on Thursday.

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion plans to open doors for its key corporate customers using a decade-old technology most in the smartphone industry eye as a way to turn phones into wallets.

Kweku Adoboli, the 31-year-old London man accused as the rogue trader who cost Swiss banking giant UBS an estimated loss of $2 billion, is a "well-dressed quiet man" of African origin who wasn't the "tidiest" but is very "well spoken," according to a former landlord.

When a name like Kweku Adoboli instantly becomes public, like the UBS trader who allegedly lost the bank $2 billion in unauthorized transactions and who is suddenly a globally hot Internet search item, many turn to the most public source available -- Facebook, the world's largest social network.

UBS has 65,000 employees. The Swiss bank has global operations, serving approximately 50 countries. The company has been around for nearly 150 years. But one rogue trader -- reportedly a 31-year-old living and working in London -- has apparently brought the company to its knees in embarrassment and financial loss.

Jefferies believes Intel Developer Forum has been a positive catalyst for ON Semiconductor Corp. and the company will continue to gain market share as Sandy Bridge ramp progresses.

Dell Inc. said its board of directors authorized an additional $5 billion for stock repurchases. Barclays Capital said the additional stock repurchases should be used to support Dell's earnings per share but not necessarily be a catalyst.

Asian stocks bounced on Thursday after tentative steps by euro zone policymakers to tackle a crippling debt crisis, but investors remained wary that obstacles the bloc's leaders face could weigh on the euro and Asian currencies in the medium term.

The European Union wants more clarity from Beijing on increased export quotas for rare earth minerals from dominant producer China in meetings next month and December, Europe's trade chief said.

Aluminum maker Alcoa Inc (AA.N) and China Power Investment Corp moved a step closer to linking up to manufacture aluminum products in China, the companies said on Wednesday.

China-focused miner Silvercorp (SVM.TO: Quote) offered a detailed rebuttal of new anonymous allegations of fraud on Wednesday, releasing figures on tax, production and assay grades to fend off an attack from short-sellers.

Italy's parliament voted in favor of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's emergency austerity budget on Wednesday afternoon. The vote was the final approval of the plan, which passed both the senate and the lower house.

Canada should see modest economic growth and avoid a double-dip recession, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said on Wednesday.

In July, Nomura said it would seek to reduce annual expenses at its wholesale unit by about $400 million.

Asian stocks, U.S. index futures and the euro fell on Wednesday as investors remained unconvinced that euro zone leaders have a coherent plan to tackle the bloc's sovereign debt problems, which many fear could trigger a new banking crisis.

Toronto's main stock index pushed higher on Tuesday morning, following a steep sell-off in the previous session, as U.S. oil prices rose and Wall Street rallied on strength in the banking sector.

The top pre-market NASDAQ Stock Market gainers are: Micron Technology, SodaStream International, Ryanair Holdings, NVIDIA, and Brocade Communications Systems. The top pre-market NASDAQ Stock Market losers are: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Logitech International, Huntington Bancshares, News Corp., and Netflix.

European shares fell again Tuesday morning, hitting a fresh two-year low for the second straight session as investors worried policymakers had no plan to stem the euro zone debt crisis, which could see Greece default.

South Africa's rand steadied against the dollar on Tuesday after falling more than 2.6 percent overnight, while bonds also recouped some losses although local assets remained vulnerable to renewed global risk aversion.

FirstRand, South Africa's second-biggest bank, posted a 22 percent rise in full-year earnings, buoyed by a sharp drop in bad debts, and said it would pay a special dividend.

European stocks rose on Tuesday on a report that Italy may get financial support from China but the euro inched down as markets remained fearful that Europe is sliding into another banking crisis.

Asian stocks steadied and the euro held above a seven-month low against the dollar on short-covering on Tuesday, after a report that Italy may get financial support from China lifted Wall Street in late trade but did nothing to ease fears that Europe is descending into a banking crisis.

Royal Bank of Canada on Monday downgraded its growth forecast for the Canadian economy in 2011, citing weaker performance in the United States and Europe.

Concerned over cover bonds and government-backed securities, JP Morgan Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon thinks that the Basel III banking regulations are anti-American.

Despite the FDA advisory panel's backing, RBC Capital Markets does not believe Johnson & Johnson's (NYSE: JNJ) Xarelto is well positioned to receive marketing approval on Nov. 5.

Mines Management Inc., a U.S.-based silver mining company, said Monday its second-quarter loss grew as declining expenses were offset by less valuable derivatives.