GLOBAL MARKETS

General Motors' profit topped estimates as revenue jumped 19 percent.

Apple Inc. is being aggressive defending its own IP with well publicized suits against Samsung and HTC, Barclays Capital said. Key companies in the wireless arena including Apple and Google continue to acquire and invest in IP to cement their positions.

Shares of the following companies are actively trading in the pre-market hours Thursday on Nasdaq. The companies are Dendreon, Entropic Communications, Cadence Pharma, Zipcar, On Assignment, GT Solar and Randgold Resources.

The global economy is more sluggish than first thought, government bonds offer no real return, gold is super expensive and stock markets sell off at the slightest setback.

The companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trade on Thursday are: Kraft Foods, CIGNA, Teradata, NYSE Euronext, Davita, Tiffany, Alpha Natural Resources, Northrop Grumman, Carnival, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold and United States Steel Corp.

Jefferies believes Research In Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerry Enterprise Server/BlackBerry Internet Service (BES/BIS) infrastructure could be worth $5 billion to $10 billion in a sale. But who will buy it?

The top after-market NASDAQ Stock Market gainers are: Web.com Group, On Assignment, Zipcar, Allied Motion Technologies, Savient Pharmaceuticals, and The Andersons. The top after-market NASDAQ Stock Market losers are: Dendreon, Entropic Communications, comScore, Zumiez, Oncothyreon, and Career Education.

Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said on Wednesday he has been having discussions with his Group of 20 colleagues about the global economic situation, which has been hit by U.S. and European debt fears.

The world's largest economy was headed toward an unprecedented default, and all Washington wanted to talk about was the manner in which the president had left a room.

South African government bonds rallied sharply on Wednesday and the yield on the benchmark note fell to 9-month lows as a gloomy global economic climate cast a shadow on the domestic outlook.

U.S. automakers reported higher sales for the month of July, but the ongoing weak economic environment doesn't bode well for the sector.

Authenticity of research company's Web site questioned.

The top pre-market NASDAQ Stock Market gainers are: Global Traffic Network, AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, InterDigital, and ZST Digital Networks. The top pre-market NASDAQ Stock Market losers are: Smith Micro Software, MicroStrategy, OpenTable, Sonus Networks, Garmin, and Dunkin' Brands Group.

The companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trade on Wednesday are: SuccessFactors, Genworth Financial, Juniper Networks, Rockwell Automation, MasterCard, Fiserv, Frontier Communications, Archer Daniels Midland, Urban Outfitters, Marathon Oil and Thor Industries.

Jefferies said 3G wireless data will drive significant change in China Telecom landscape over the next two years.

The top after-market NYSE losers on Tuesday are: Ion Geophysical, Boston Beer Co, HFF, Orbitz Worldwide, Emdeon, Buckeye Technologies, Calgon Carbon, Arcos Dorados Holdings, Thor Industries and MetroPCS Communications.

The top after-market NYSE gainers on Tuesday are: Willbros Group, SuccessFactors, Zale Corp, Orient-Express Hotels, Pilgrim's Pride Corp, Modine Manufacturing, Quanex Building Products, KBW, Harris Corp and United Rentals.

The top after-market NASDAQ Stock Market gainers are: j2 Global Communications, Westell Technologies, Winn-Dixie Stores, Commercial Vehicle Group, and Merge Healthcare. The top after-market NASDAQ Stock Market losers are: Smith Micro Software, Liquidity Services, Cavium Networks, Black Box, and OpenTable.

If you thought that space exploration and zero-gravity experience is only for astronauts and celebrities, then think again.

Moody's Investors Service on Tuesday confirmed its Aaa rating of the United States, citing the decision to raise the debt limit, but assigned a negative outlook that could pressure lawmakers to cut the U.S. deficit.

Over the last seven consecutive days, the index has plunged 6.76 percent.

South African government bonds rose on Tuesday, boosted by an auction which saw the strongest demand in a year with foreign buying a key feature.

Buyout firm Carlyle Group agreed to buy 9 percent of Haier Electronics Group Co Ltd (HEG) through convertible bonds, raising its stake in a Chinese company expanding into Japan and China's untapped markets.

China is likely to export 45 million tonnes of steel products in 2011, up 5.7 percent compared with last year, the industry ministry said on Tuesday.

SABMiller , the world's second largest brewer, moved to expand further in China on Tuesday by increasing its stakes to 100 percent in two brewers in the central Chinese province of Zhejiang for $47 million in cash.

Google beefs up its daily deal services.

The top pre-market NASDAQ Stock Market gainers are: Foster Wheeler AG, SIRIUS XM Radio, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Sohu.com, and Pan American Silver. The top pre-market NASDAQ Stock Market losers are: Ctrip.com International, Allot Communications, Nova Measuring Instruments, Kulicke & Soffa Industries, and Ryanair Holdings.

The companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trade on Tuesday are: American Tower, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Chesapeake Energy, Duke Energy, Hasbro, MetroPCS Communications, Archer Daniels Midland, FMC Corp, United States Steel, Target Corp and Molson Coors Brewing Co.

The top after-market NYSE gainers on Monday are: Herbalife, McClatchy, Hanger Orthopedic Group, Dice Holdings and Molina Healthcare Inc. The top after-market NYSE losers are: Ferro Corp, General Cable, Graphic Packaging Holding, CH Energy Group and Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior.