EQUITIES

Stock index futures turned positive on Friday after jobs data showed the unemployment rate fell to a five-month low last month, even as employers unexpectedly cut jobs.

U.S. stock index futures fell on Friday, following Wall Street's worst day in more than nine months, as lingering worries over the fiscal health of some European countries curbed risk appetite ahead of a key U.S. jobs report.

U.S. stock index futures fell on Friday, following Wall Street's worst day in more than nine months, as lingering worries over the fiscal health of some European countries curbed risk appetite ahead of a key U.S. jobs report.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Friday, after heavy falls in the previous session and following declines in Europe and Asia, with some caution expected ahead of a key labor market report.

Major U.S. stock indices plunged today, taking the stock market into negative territory for February.

The Dow briefly fell below the crucial 10,000 mark on Thursday as stocks suffered their worst losses in more than nine months.

Stocks ended sharply lower on Thursday as mounting sovereign debt problems in Europe and an unexpected rise in jobless claims put investors on the defensive just ahead of the crucial payrolls report.

Top U.S. retail chains ended their fiscal year with better-than-expected January sales, but the current first quarter could be tougher if consumers overspent during the holiday season.

Standard & Poor's on Thursday stripped Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc of its top AAA rating, saying its acquisition of Burlington Northern Santa Fe will hurt liquidity and capital adequacy.

The S&P 500 is dropping at a slower rate in afternoon trading after getting hammered in the morning session, although it is still on pace to post its worst trading session in 2010.

U.S. stocks sank on Thursday as escalating fears of sovereign debt problems in Europe led investors to dump riskier assets.

NEW YORK - Stocks tumbled on Thursday as the number of Americans claiming jobless benefits rose unexpectedly and renewed fears of sovereign debt problems in Europe led investors to dump riskier assets.

Nearly all Europe-related stocks, bonds and exchange traded funds are selling heavily during the morning New York session.

U.S. stocks gave up more than 2 percent on Thursday after data showed new applications for jobless insurance rose unexpectedly last week, and basic materials shares sank as a rising U.S. dollar hit commodity prices.

U.S. stocks slid 2 percent on Thursday after new applications for jobless insurance rose unexpectedly, and basic materials shares sank as a rising U.S. dollar hurt commodity prices

U.S. stock markets fell in early trading on Thursday, tracking Asian and European markets as worries over European sovereign debt intensified and concerns arose after a disappointing U.S. unemployment claims report was released this morning.

Wall Street was set to drop nearly 1 percent at the open on Thursday after new applications for jobless insurance rose unexpectedly, adding to worries over sovereign debt in some euro zone countries that kept investors away from risky investments, including equities.

U.S. stock index futures fell on Thursday as renewed worries over sovereign debt in some euro zone countries kept investors away from riskier investments, including equities, ahead of U.S. jobs and factory data.

Stock futures for the Dow Jones industrial average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 fall 0.5 to 0.6 percent, pointing to a weaker start on Wall Street on Thursday.

The euro hit a seven-month low against the dollar on Thursday as concerns intensified that Greece's fiscal problems would spread to other highly-indebted euro zone countries, while European stocks followed Asia lower.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), IBM (NYSE:IBM), and Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ) all rallied during the regular session; in after-hours, these stocks continued to add to their gains.

Stocks mostly fell on Wednesday as Pfizer's disappointing outlook weighed on the health sector, and President Obama's pledge to complete banking and healthcare reform revived fears of increased regulation.

Stocks mostly fell on Wednesday as Pfizer's disappointing outlook weighed on the health sector, and President Obama's pledge to complete banking and healthcare reform revived fears of increased regulation.

The stock market ended lower on Wednesday, snapping a two day rally while the dollar reversed its two day slide.

Stocks mostly fell on Wednesday, retreating from a two-day rally, as Pfizer's disappointing outlook and the president's commitment to bank and healthcare reform weighed on the financial and health sectors.

MetLife Inc faced a possible credit ratings downgrade and its shares dropped more than 4 percent on Wednesday, a day after the biggest U.S. life insurer confirmed it was in talks but hadn't reached a deal to buy a unit of American International Group Inc .

U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday after President Barack Obama reiterated his commitment to overhaul the healthcare system and impose stricter regulatory reforms on Wall Street.

Borders Group Inc shares spiked nearly 40 percent on Wednesday after its largest investor, William Ackman, said there was little likelihood the struggling bookseller would file for bankruptcy and it could even be part of an industry consolidation.

U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday as earnings reports released today failed to beat heightened expectations amid a solid earnings season.