EQUITIES

Stock index futures were little changed in light volume on Thursday ahead of a busy day for economic data as Wall Street approached a fourth straight week of gains.

Oil prices held above $90 a barrel, close to their highest in two years on Thursday, after cold weather boosted demand and U.S. stockpiles shrank.

World stocks hit their highest level since September 2008 on Thursday while oil held near a two-year peak as favorable U.S. data reinforced expectations economic growth will retain momentum into next year.

Oil prices climbed toward a two-year high on Thursday as cold weather in the United States boosted demand, slashed stockpiles and contributed to a stronger-than-expected rise in fuel consumption in 2010.

Asian shares edged higher on Thursday with gains led by resource-linked stocks, and oil traded just below the two-year high it hit yesterday on cautious but growing optimism of the health of the world economy.

Stock index futures pointed to a flat opening on Wall Street on Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.04 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.01 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.01 percent at 0917 GMT (4:17 a.m. ET).

Resources-linked stocks rose and oil climbed toward the $91 per dollar mark for the first time in more than two years after latest U.S. data offered yet another sign that the world's biggest economy is on the mend.

A lawsuit filed against Philip Falcone charges that the investor took advantage of his position in engineering a stock swap between his hedge fund and a small publicly traded company that he also controls.

(In Dec 17 item, corrects Michael Gault's attribution to Weiser Capital Management in paragraph 9)

The S&P 500 and Dow were slightly lower on Friday amid renewed concerns over euro zone debt, but strong results in the tech sector helped keep the Nasdaq in positive territory.

Stocks rose on Wednesday on strength in financials, putting the S&P 500 on the path for a fifth-straight session of gains and lifting it to levels not seen since before Lehman Brothers Holdings' bankruptcy.

Stocks edged higher on Wednesday as gains in financial stocks helped put the S&P 500 on pace for a fifth-straight winning session and lifted the benchmark index to levels not seen since before Lehman Brothers went bankrupt.

Stocks edged higher on Wednesday as financial stocks helped extend four days of gains that drove the S&P 500 to levels not seen since before Lehman Brothers went bankrupt two years ago.

Business software maker Red Hat Inc issued an outlook for profit and revenue above Wall Street projections on Tuesday, echoing optimism about the technology spending climate shown by bigger industry companies last week.

S&P 500 stock index futures edged higher on Wednesday as traders looked to extend four days of gains that drove the S&P 500 to levels reached just before Lehman Brothers went bankrupt two years ago.

Stock index futures were flat on Wednesday after fours days of gains drove the S&P 500 to new highs, leaving the index near levels reached just before Lehman Brothers went bankrupt two years ago.

Stock futures for the Dow Jones industrial average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 all fell 0.1 percent, pointing to a slightly weaker start for equities on Wall Street on Wednesday.

U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday as solid earnings and a flurry of merger activity underpinned a steady upward trend that reinforced investor optimism for the coming year.

Stocks rose on Tuesday as solid earnings and a flurry of merger activity underpinned a steady upward trend that reinforced investor optimism for the coming year.

Stocks advanced on Tuesday as solid earnings and a flurry of merger action laid the foundation for a steady upward trend in the equities market that investors potentially see accelerating.

The Treasury Department plans to sell a large piece of its stake in American International Group in two stock offerings next year, officials briefed on the situation told Reuters.

Stocks advanced on Tuesday as solid earnings and a flurry of merger action laid the foundation for a steady upward trend in the equities market that investors potentially see accelerating.

Stocks rose on Tuesday as solid earnings and a new flurry of merger action laid the foundation for a steady upward trend in the equities market that investors believe will continue.

Stocks rose on Tuesday as earnings and mergers supported a steady upward trend in the equity market that investors say has further to run.

Stocks looked set to grind to fresh highs on Tuesday as corporate results and mergers supported a steady upward trend in the equity market.

Stock index futures rose on Tuesday as a higher earnings outlook from software maker Adobe Systems and more mergers looked to add fuel to the December rally.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Tuesday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.36 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.32 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.27 percent at 0928 GMT (4:28 a.m. EDT).

The euro bounced back on Tuesday from a day-earlier selloff over euro debt woes following words of support from China, while stocks were firm across Asia as investors picked up end-of-year bargains.

Dell Inc founder and chief executive Michael Dell is spending $100 million to snap up more of his company's stock.