NIKKEI 225

Markets got off to a hesitant start Monday as investor doubts on the staying power of a global recovery kept Asian stocks soggy and currencies subdued ahead of a much-expanded Group of Eight meeting this week.

Stocks in Hong Kong and Taiwan rose on Thursday, bolstered by bets China's recovery will continue, while the U.S. dollar recovered from a three-week low against the euro ahead of the latest U.S. labor market report.

Asian stocks were largely unchanged on Thursday ahead of the latest U.S. payrolls report, while the U.S. dollar remained near a three-week low against the euro, sensitive to lingering doubts about its reserve status.

Asian stock markets put in a mixed performance on Wednesday, with Seoul gaining but Tokyo and Sydney weak as data showed the process of swinging the global economy around to a recovery would be a slow grind.

Asian stock markets struggled to gain ground on Wednesday as economic data showed the process of turnaround to recovery was likely to be a slow grind, and the dollar capitalized on that more cautious sentiment.

Asian stocks rose on Tuesday, the last day of a torrid quarter, as investors added to trades based on a rebound in economic activity, while funds slashed bets against a fall in oil prices to keep crude on track for its biggest quarterly gain in 19 years.

Asian stocks tumbled on Tuesday, as confidence in the recovery ebbed and falling commodity prices and a sharp drop on Wall Street spooked investors into taking profits and buying the yen for safety.

Asian stocks tumbled on Tuesday, after falling commodity prices and a sharp drop on Wall Street spooked investors into taking profits and buying the yen on speculation the rapid pace of recovery may not be sustainable.

Japan's Nikkei stock average extended gains on Monday to rise 0.9 percent as investors were heartened by a broad rise in Asian shares, with car battery maker GS Yuasa Corp rebounding after a sell-off.

Asian stocks retreated on Thursday, with some investors booking profits after solid gains in the second quarter sparked by signs the global economy is starting to recover.

Asian stocks outside Japan fell for a fourth day on Wednesday, weighed by resource-related shares and doubts about a global economic recovery, while U.S. Treasuries eased on profit taking after a surge overnight.

Most stocks in Asia edged lower on Wednesday, weighed down by resource-related shares and doubts about a global economic recovery, while oil slipped below $70 a barrel ahead of U.S. inventory data that could reflect slowing energy demand.

Most stocks in Asia edged lower on Wednesday, weighed down by resource-related shares and doubts about a global economic recovery, while oil slipped below $70 a barrel ahead of U.S. inventory data that could reflect slowing energy demand.

Investment bank Nomura Holdings and insurer T&D Holdings are among the firms in the second round of bidding for Citigroup's asset management arm in Japan in a deal likely to exceed $1 billion, five sources familiar with the matter said.

Stock index futures pointed to a mixed open on Wall Street on Friday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.2 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.1 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.3 percent by 6:00 a.m. ET.

Stock futures pointed to opening gains of more than 1 percent on Wednesday, following a rally in global stock markets underpinned by higher commodity and energy prices.

Asian shares rallied on Wednesday as reports of stronger-than-expected industrial output in China raised optimism about the global economy, lifting metals and oil prices at or near multi-month highs.

World stocks rose on Tuesday, led by a rebound in Europe, while the dollar slipped and investors sought fresh signs that the global economy is at least not getting worse.

Asian shares fell on Tuesday for a second consecutive session as investors worried that a recent rally may be overdone, though oil prices extended gains ahead of data this week expected to show a fall in U.S. crude inventories.

Asian shares rose to fresh eight-month highs on Wednesday, as U.S. home sales data added to optimism that the global economy is through the worst, while the dollar struggled off its latest set of lows for the year.

Asian shares hovered close to eight-month highs on Wednesday, pausing for breath after rallying on optimism that the global economy is through the worst, while the dollar struggled near its latest set of lows for the year.