EQUITIES

Stocks posted their best day in the last nine on Thursday in response to signs of health in the euro debt market and as investors snapped up energy shares crushed in the previous day's sell-off.

U.S. lawmakers tasked with hammering out a final version of financial-reform legislation will use as a starting point a bill that combines mortgage reforms passed by the House and the Senate, according to a summary obtained by Reuters.

Securities regulators approved new so-called circuit breakers on Thursday in an attempt to prevent a repeat of the still-unexplained May 6 stock market drop.

The Dow and S&P climbed more than 2 percent on Thursday, with the Nasdaq not far behind as China's confirmation of strong export data relieved recovery concerns and helped lift the euro.

Stocks rose sharply on Thursday, with the Dow and S&P up more than 2 percent, as confirmation of strong China export data eased recovery concerns and helped spur a climb in the euro.

Stock index futures rose on Thursday, boosted by confirmation of solid China export data and a climb in the euro as investors awaited a report on the U.S. labor market.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open for Wall Street on Thursday, rebounding from falls in the previous session, with futures for the Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq up 0.9 to 1.1 percent by 0849 GMT.

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.

Asian stocks rose on Thursday on higher-than-expected Chinese exports and assurances from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke that the U.S. economic recovery was on solid footing, but European stocks were expected to open lower, tracking Wall Street's fall overnight.

The Congress put the last pieces in place on Wednesday to begin hammering out a historic financial regulation overhaul, a day after primary elections vindicated get-tough-on-Wall Street politics.

Stocks fell on Wednesday in another late-day roller-coaster ride, dragged lower by BP and other energy shares as the U.S. probe of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico deepened.

The United States is not facing a double-dip recession, and with inflation low conditions are setting up for equities in general to do well, Goldman Sachs' senior U.S. investment strategist Abby Joseph Cohen said on Wednesday.

Stocks jumped on Wednesday, driving the Dow back above the psychologically important 10,000 mark, as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's positive comments about the economy and unofficial data on Chinese exports spurred hopes for a global recovery.

Wall Street advanced on Wednesday after unofficial data showed Chinese exports topped expectations, boosting hopes for a global recovery.

Wall Street was set for a higher open on Wednesday as Wall Street looked to build on gains in the prior session after unofficial data showed Chinese exports topped expectations, easing global recovery concerns.

Wall Street investment strategists are buckling up for a bumpy ride and keeping a wary eye on Europe, but there are some stock market bulls who expect their forecasts for the U.S. stock market to be vindicated.

Stock index futures rose on Wednesday as Wall Street looked to build on gains in the previous session after unofficial data showed Chinese exports blew past expectations, easing concerns about a global recovery.

Stock index futures were higher on Wednesday as Wall Street looked to build on gains in the previous session after unofficial data showed Chinese exports blew past expectations, easing concerns about a global recovery.

Stock index futures pointed to a mixed open on Wall Street on Wednesday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.39 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.26 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.36 percent at 0945 GMT.

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.

Three former executives at Chicago-based hedge fund Citadel are launching a computer-driven fund, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

Stocks mostly rose in volatile trading on Tuesday, led by materials and financial shares, but investors shied away from big-cap technology shares on concerns about their European exposure.

The Dow and the S&P 500 rose in choppy trading on Tuesday as higher oil prices lifted energy shares, while the Nasdaq fell on weakness in tech.

The Dow and the S&P 500 rose in choppy trading on Tuesday as higher oil prices lifted Exxon, while the Nasdaq fell after an analyst cut price targets on tech bellwethers such as Amazon.com.

Wall Street was flat in choppy trade on Tuesday after relinquishing early gains, as euro-zone concerns offset reassuring comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on the state of the U.S. economy.

Wall Street was poised for a higher open on Tuesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the U.S. economy appeared to have enough momentum to avoid a double-dip recession.

U.S. stock index futures were slightly higher on Tuesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the U.S. economy appeared to have enough momentum to avoid a double-dip recession.

Stock index futures were slightly higher on Tuesday, as investors digested comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on the strength of the U.S. recovery and the euro-zone debt crisis.

Stock index futures pared early gains on Tuesday, pointing to a mixed open as lingering fears over Europe's debt crisis hit the region's stocks and eclipsed soothing comments from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke.