NIKKEI 225

Toyota Motor Corp is set to resume construction of car assembly plants in Brazil and Mississippi which were put on hold amid the global financial crisis, the Nikkei business daily said on Thursday.

Asian shares rose on Wednesday, led by electronics makers and resource stocks, after successful European debt auctions boosted hopes for global growth and lifted commodity prices.

Oil rose above $77 on Wednesday to reach the highest level since mid-May, tracking a recovery in global stock markets as risk appetite returns with easing concern about Europe's economy.

Asian stocks slipped on Tuesday, snapping a five-day winning streak, as worries about Europe's debt problems returned after Greece was downgraded to junk status, a move which also stymied the euro's rally.

Asian stocks slipped on Tuesday, snapping a five-day winning streak, as worries about Europe's debt problems returned after Greece was downgraded to junk status, a move which also stymied the euro's rally.

Stock index futures rose on Monday, building on last week's gains and tracking higher global equities, after strong euro zone industrial data and as oil prices advanced.

Stock index futures rose on Monday, building on last week's gains and tracking higher global equities, after strong euro zone industrial data and as oil prices advanced.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Monday, adding to last week's gains and tracking gains in global equities, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.6 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.4 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.6 percent at 0821 GMT.

World oil prices advanced above $74 a barrel in Asian trade Monday mainly after equity markets surged in the region. Light sweet crude for July delivery was seen trading at $ 74.71 a barrel at 12.noon Singapore time while Brent crude was at $ 75.00 a barrel on the ICE futures exchange. Equity markets across Asia gained momentum with Japan's Nikkei rose 1.7 percent as traders bet the region's strong economic growth will boost company profits.

Gold rebounded on short covering on Friday after falling around 1 percent in the previous session, while a rise in ETF holdings to another record showed bullion still attracted buying from investors.

Stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Wall Street on Friday following the previous session's strong gains, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.24 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.19 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.15 percent at 0944 GMT.

Asian stocks rose for a fourth day on Friday on optimism that the world economic recovery was on track despite Europe's debt woes, while the euro was steady after a rally the previous day.

Losses in European shares offset gains in Asia on Thursday to drag down world stocks while the euro gained in part because of supportive comments from the influential head of China's national pension fund.

A third strike in four weeks hit Honda Motor Co's Chinese suppliers on Wednesday, fuelling concerns that unrest among workers in the world's manufacturing hub is spreading.

Most Asian stock markets clawed back early losses on Wednesday and the euro stabilized as news of stronger-than-expected exports from China offset worries that Europe's debt problems will stifle demand for Asian goods.

Financial markets stuck to their recent script on Tuesday, following a day of volatility with modest equities gains and a small lift for the euro.

The euro bounced from a four-year low and Asian stocks edged up on Tuesday as traders paused a selloff of riskier assets ahead of Chinese economic data and a European Central Bank meeting later in the week.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Monday, adding to the previous session's strong sell-off, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.6 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.7 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.5 percent at 0755 GMT.

The euro sank to four-year lows on Monday and stocks and commodities fell as increasing market volatility prompted investors to shed even more risky bets.

Asian stocks jumped on Thursday, posting their biggest single-day gain in four weeks, as U.S. housing data fueled optimism about the world's largest economy.

Asian stocks followed Wall Street down on Wednesday as jitters over the euro zone's debt crisis prompted investors to keep cutting riskier positions, while the euro steadied after hitting a four-year low.