EQUITIES

Asian stocks hit a two-week high, with Japan's Nikkei briefly rising more than 2 percent, as strong U.S. manufacturing data further soothed worries about the global economy.

Stock index futures pointed to a mostly lower open for U.S. shares on Thursday, giving back a little of the strong gains from the previous session, when they were boosted by strong manufacturing data from China and the United States.

World stocks hit a two-week high on Thursday and oil prices rose as optimism from strong U.S. and Chinese manufacturing data extended into a second day ahead of a euro zone interest rate decision and key U.S. jobs data.

Asian stocks hit a two-week high, with Japan's Nikkei briefly rising more than 2 percent, as strong U.S. manufacturing data further soothed worries about the global economy.

Asian stocks rose to a two-week high, with Japan's Nikkei briefly rising more than 2 percent, as strong U.S. manufacturing data further soothed worries about the global economy.

Asian stocks rose to a two-week high, with Japan's Nikkei briefly rising more than 2 percent, as strong U.S. manufacturing data further soothed worries about the global economy.

Wall Street posted its best day in eight weeks on Wednesday as investor mood brightened after better-than-expected factory data from the United States and China.

A manufacturing rebound in China and stronger-than-expected U.S. factory data spurred a jump in equity and commodity prices worldwide on Wednesday, helping start the month on a bright note after a gloomy August.

Wall Street rose more than 2 percent on Wednesday and was set to record its best day in eight weeks as U.S. and Asian economic data soothed worries about a global economic slowdown.

Media stocks gained more than the market in early trading on Wednesday ahead of details of a new online TV product announcement expected from Apple Inc later in the day.

Wall Street jumped on Wednesday as an increase in U.S. manufacturing activity and new signs of growth in China and Australia boosted investor confidence in the state of the global economy.

Wall Street jumped on Wednesday as an increase in U.S. manufacturing activity and new signs of growth in China and Australia boosted investor confidence on the state of the global economy.

Wall Street was set for a higher open on Wednesday as new signs of growth in China and Australia eased concerns about the global economy's health and investors shrugged off an unexpected cut in U.S. private sector payrolls.

World stocks kicked off September on a stronger note on Wednesday as data showed a manufacturing rebound in China and stronger-than-expected growth in Australia, while the yen held near recent 15-year peaks against the dollar.

Stock index futures trimmed gains slightly on Wednesday after data showed private employers unexpectedly cut 10,000 jobs in August.

U.S. regulators did not grant Lehman Brothers the same assistance as its competitors, knocking out the possibility of an orderly unwind of the firm and aggravating the global crisis, former Lehman Chief Executive Dick Fuld said on Wednesday.

Stock index futures rose on Wednesday as new signs of growth in China and Australia eased concerns about the global economy's health and investors awaited data on the labor market and housing.

Stock index futures rose on Wednesday as new signs of growth in China and Australia eased concerns about the global economy and investors awaited data on the labor market and housing.

Asian stocks rose on Wednesday as investors cheered a manufacturing rebound in China and rosier-than-expected Australian growth, which halted the yen's advance towards a 15-year peak against the dollar.

Stock futures for the Dow Jones industrial average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 rise 0.3 to 0.7 percent, pointing to a firmer start on Wall Street on Wednesday.

Asian stocks rose on Wednesday as investors cheered a manufacturing rebound in China and rosier-than-expected Australian growth, which halted the yen's advance toward a 15-year peak against the dollar.

Asian stocks rose on Wednesday as investors cheered a manufacturing rebound in China and stronger-than-expected growth in Australia, while the yen inched up towards a 15-year peak against the dollar.

Stocks ended little changed in choppy trading on Tuesday, closing out an August the bulls would like to forget.

Stocks rose in choppy trading on Tuesday, closing out a weak month for equities as a pair of positive data surprises on the consumer and housing fronts helped ease investor anxiety over the economy's strength.

U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday as a pair of positive data surprises helped alleviate continued investor anxiety over the economy's strength.

World stocks fell on Tuesday in markets dominated by concerns the U.S. economy is sliding back into recession, prompting further flows into safe-haven assets.

Wall Street erased initial gains and moved higher on Tuesday as a string of economic data helped relieve investor anxiety about the strength of the economic recovery.

Wall Street was poised for a lower open on Tuesday as housing data failed to counter pessimism about the economy.

The FTSE 100 dropped sharply early on Tuesday, led by falls in risk sensitive assets such as banks and commodity stocks as fears intensified over the sustainability of the global recovery.