EQUITIES

Mired with losses, Japan's biggest electronics group by sales, Hitachi Ltd , is raising up to $4.6 billion to cut debt as it seeks to turnaround its sprawling businesses and also invest in new growth drivers.

Shares in Exxon Mobil Corp, the world's largest publicly traded oil company, could rise more than 20 percent to $90 next year if energy prices increase as expected, Barron's reported on Sunday.

U.S. stocks could face difficulty gaining traction this week as the S&P 500 bumps against the 1,100 mark and investors become content to cool their heels rather than risk losing gains made for the year.

U.S. stocks rose in light volume on Friday to achieve a second straight week of gains as upbeat retail news reinforced hopes for strong sales in the key holiday season

U.S. stocks rose on Friday, setting up a second straight week of gains, as upbeat retail news reinforced hopes for strong sales in the key holiday season.

U.S. stocks rose on Friday, setting up a second straight week of gains, as upbeat retail news reinforced hopes for strong sales in the key holiday season.

U.S. department store operator J.C. Penney Co Inc forecast earnings for the holiday quarter that could surpass Wall Street expectations, and its shares rose 7.2 percent on Friday.

U.S. stocks rose 1 percent on Friday as upbeat news from some retailers reinforced hopes of an uptick in consumer spending in the key holiday season, even as an early November gauge of consumer sentiment fell.

- U.S. stocks rose on Friday, with the Dow industrials briefly rising more than 1 percent, as robust commentary from some retailers reinforced hopes of an uptick in consumer spending in the holiday season.

U.S. stocks rose on Friday as robust commentary from some retailers reinforced hopes of an uptick in consumer spending in the holiday season, even as an early November gauge of consumer confidence fell.

U.S. stocks edged up on Friday as solid earnings from Walt Disney Co and JC Penney Co Inc offset weaker-than-expected consumer sentiment data.

U.S. stocks edged up on Friday as solid earnings from Walt Disney Co and JC Penney Co Inc offset weaker-than-expected consumer sentiment data.

Wall Street was set for a higher open on Friday after solid earnings from Walt Disney Co and JC Penney Co Inc, following the first losing day in seven sessions for blue chips.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Friday after solid earnings from Walt Disney Co and JC Penney Co Inc, following the first losing day in seven sessions for blue chips.

Department store operator J.C. Penney Co Inc reported a lower quarterly profit on Friday but raised its forecast for the full year to a level that could top Wall Street expectations, sending shares up nearly 4 percent.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Friday after a selloff in the previous session that halted a six-day Dow winning streak, as investors awaited a slew of earnings reports and data on consumer spending.

The U.S. dollar eased on Friday after overnight gains and ahead of euro zone growth data, boosting metal and crude prices, while world stocks drifted higher. The dollar rose overnight against a basket of currencies but succumbed to another sporadic bout of profit-taking, and traders said the currency's broad weakness was likely to continue over the longer term.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open for U.S. shares on Friday after snapping a six-day winning streak in the previous session, with investors awaiting earnings from JC Penney and Abercrombie & Fitch .

Gold retreated from a record high above $1,120 an ounce on Thursday and global stocks lost ground as doubts about a lasting economic recovery underpinned the dollar.

The Dow industrials six-day winning streak came to a halt on Thursday as a drop in oil prices pulled energy stocks lower and a guarded outlook from Wal-Mart fanned worries about consumer spending.

U.S. stocks fell broadly on Thursday as a stronger dollar weighed on commodity-linked shares and a guarded outlook from Wal-Mart Stores Inc led to worries about consumer spending.

U.S. stocks extended losses on Thursday, with the S&P 500 index down 1 percent, as a fall in oil's price weighed on shares in the energy sector.

U.S. stocks fell on Thursday as a stronger dollar weighed on commodity-linked shares and a guarded outlook from Wal-Mart Stores Inc led to worries about the strength of consumer spending.

The Dow and the S&P 500 indexes were flat to slightly lower on Thursday, threatening to snap a six-session rally for the Dow, after a Wal-Mart Stores Inc forecast sparked concerns about consumer spending.

The Dow and S&P 500 indexes turned positive in early trading on Thursday, led by gains in technology stocks, erasing losses shortly after the open.

Wall Street was set to open lower on Thursday as a weak holiday quarter forecast from retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc sparked concerns about consumer spending, threatening to break a six-session rally for the Dow.

U.S. stock index futures briefly pared losses on Thursday after weekly jobless data showed the number of U.S. workers filing new benefit claims fell for the second week in a row.

U.S. stock index futures fell on Thursday as an earnings forecast from retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc sowed doubt about consumer spending for the rest of 2009, threatening to end a six-session rally for the Dow.

Stock index futures fell on Thursday as investors awaited earnings from retail giant Wal-Mart after the Dow and the Standard & Poor's 500 index closed at 13-month highs in the previous session.