GLOBAL MARKETS

Siemens Energy said it has been awarded another order from Minnesota Power for 35 3-megawatt SWT-3.0-101 direct drive wind turbines for its Bison 2 wind energy center near Center, North Dakota.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices continued to point to a higher opening on Friday after government data showed that US economic activity grew at a 3.1 percent annual rate in the fourth quarter.

The top pre-market NASDAQ Stock Market gainers are: Biostar Pharmaceuticals, Wet Seal, Zalicus, Oracle, and JetBlue Airways. The top pre-market NASDAQ Stock Market losers are: China Finance Online, Research In Motion, Acacia Research, Universal Display, XOMA, and Netflix.

At its annual meeting, Starbucks Corp. (NYSE: SBUX) said it would offer its own value oriented single-serve machine with Courtesy Products.

Brown-Forman Corp. has authorized its Board to repurchase up to $250 million of its outstanding Class A and Class B common shares through November 30, 2011.

In a series of postings from mid to late February on 51Jobs.com (the Monster.com of China), VanceInfo Technologies Inc. (NYSE: VIT) has advertised numerous positions for onsite assignments at Yahoo China. VanceInfo is an information technology (IT) service provider and an offshore software development company in China.

Merck & Co Inc. (NYSE: MRK)'s shingles vaccine Zostavax is now approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for people aged 50 and older. Zostavax was originally approved on May 2006 to prevent herpes zoster, commonly known as shingles, in individuals 60 years of age and older.

BHP Billiton Ltd., one of the world's largest mining companies, said it would invest about $10 billion in Australia to expand its iron ore coal mining operations.

US stocks ended higher on Thursday as investors are shrugged off bad news and focused on some positive developments from the US corporate sector.

The top after-market NASDAQ Stock Market gainers are: Body Central, THQ, Wet Seal, Alkermes, and Oracle. The top after-market NASDAQ Stock Market losers are: Gen-Probe, Research In Motion, Move, Acacia Research, and China Finance Online.

Gold hit its second new record high on the trot at the London Gold Fix on Thursday morning, hitting $1441.25 per ounce for US investors as the Dollar held flat on the forex market, and US crude oil rose.

US stocks continued to rally on Thursday as investors are shrugging off the bad news and focusing on the positive developments from the US corporate sector.

UBS Securities upgraded its rating on shares of Baker Hughes Inc. (NASDAQ: BHI) to buy from neutral and increased its price target to $87 from $73. The stock touched a new 52-week high of $72.40 during Thursday's early trade.

Shares of companies active in Thursday's early trade are: Red Hat, IMAX, Steelcase, Micron Technology, Best Buy, Salesforce.com, Paychex, Hologic, H.B. Fuller Co. and Northern Oil & Gas.

Imax Corp. plans to open 75 new theatres in China as part of joint revenue sharing deal with Wanda Cinema Line Corp., sending its shares up more than 10 percent in NYSE.

U.S. stocks advanced in early trade on Thursday after official data showed that applications for jobless benefits fell more than expected last week, recording a drop for a second consecutive week.

RBC Capital Markets upgraded its rating on shares of MICROS Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCRS) to outperform from sector perform, as the company's next phase of growth emerged.

The companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trade on Thursday are: Red Hat, Micron Technology, Best Buy, Salesforce.com, Firstenergy, F5 Networks, Capital One Financial and Marshall & Ilsley Corp.

The top pre-market NASDAQ Stock Market gainers are: TranS1, Charming Shoppes, China Sunergy, Micron Technology, and TASER International. The top pre-market NASDAQ Stock Market losers are: MediciNova, SkyPeople Fruit Juice, Iridium Communications, James River Coal, and Golar LNG.

At least four US airlines have reduced their capacity plans for 2011 largely due to the high oil price.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) has released the following update on the status of on Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

US stocks defied odds on Wednesday to close slightly positive. The S&P 500 index climbed 3.77 points, or 0.29 percent, to close at 1,297.54. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 67.39 points, or 0.56 percent, to end at 12,086.02. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.54 percent.

The top after-market NASDAQ Stock Market gainers are: Zalicus, Pacific Biosciences of California, Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Micron Technology, and YRC Worldwide. The top after-market NASDAQ Stock Market losers are: MediciNova, Iridium Communications, Ascena Retail Group, Altra Holdings, and GSI Group.

U.S. stocks staged an afternoon rally Wednesday, led by materials companies, though investors continued to eye several overseas trouble spots warily.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 89 points, or 0.7%, to 12108 in late afternoon trade, led by Alcoa, which rose 3.3%. The gains were kept in check by a 1.5% decline for Bank of America, which said the Federal Reserve didn't allow it to boost its dividend. Wal-Mart Stores also was weak, falling 0.8%, as was DuPont, down 0.4%.

US stocks defied odds on Wednesday to close slightly positive.

The Gold Price rose sharply against all major currencies on Wednesday, touching near-two-week highs against the Dollar even as the US currency rose amid fresh European debt and budget concerns.

So far, G7's intervention to weaken the yen has worked. However, USD/JPY may be a one-way bet.

At least three brokerages have cut the profit forecasts of Adobe Systems (NASDAQ: ADBE), a day after the software company reduced its second quarter outlook by $50 million.

U.S. stocks extended their losses on Wednesday after official data showed that sales of single-family houses in the US fell unexpectedly in February.