EQUITIES

Futures for the Dow Jones industrial average, the Nasdaq 100 and the S&P 500 share indexes are up 0.9-1.6 percent, pointing to a higher start on Wall Street.

Futures for the Dow Jones industrial average, the Nasdaq 100 and the S&P 500 share indexes are up 0.9-1.6 percent, pointing to a higher start on Wall Street.

Stocks rose on Friday, capping their third straight monthly advance, as rising commodity prices lifted shares of natural resource companies, while a sliding dollar boosted the allure of multinationals, including Coca-Cola Co .

U.S. stocks soared late Friday just before the close of the May month giving Wall Street a gain for a third consecutive month.

Stocks rose on Friday, capping their third straight monthly advance, as rising commodity prices lifted shares of natural resource companies, while a sliding dollar boosted the allure of multinationals, including Coca-Cola Co .

Stocks rose on Friday as resurgent oil prices lifted energy shares, while a sliding dollar boosted the allure of multinationals like Coca-Cola Co and further signs of economic stabilization underpinned sentiment.

U.S. stocks were mostly flat on Friday as rising oil prices lifted energy stocks and investors digested a mixed bag of data, including regional business activity and consumer sentiment.

Stocks were mostly flat on Friday as rising oil prices lifted energy stocks and investors digested a mixed bag of data, including regional business activity and consumer sentiment.

Tiffany & Co posted a 62 percent drop in quarterly earnings on Friday, worse than Wall Street had expected, as jewelry sales languished in the recession.

Stocks were poised for a higher open on Friday after government data hinted the recession may be abating, putting the S&P 500 on pace for its third straight monthly gain, its longest streak since late 2007.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Friday ahead of another round of key economic data, putting the S&P 500 on pace for its third straight monthly gain, its longest streak since late 2007.

Futures for the Dow Jones industrial average, the Nasdaq 100 and the S&P 500 share indexes rose 0.3-0.5 percent on Friday, pointing to a higher start on Wall Street.

World stocks closed in on a new high for the year and the dollar sank toward a five-month low against major currencies on Friday on hopes that the global economy has seen the worst days of its downturn.

Futures for the Dow Jones industrial average, the Nasdaq 100 and the S&P 500 share indexes rose 0.3-0.5 percent on Friday, pointing to a higher start on Wall Street.

Japanese factories raised output by the most in nearly 60 years last month and India grew faster than expected in the March quarter, Friday data showed, further evidence the global economy may have turned a corner.

Stocks climbed more than 1 percent on Thursday as higher oil prices drove up energy shares and falling yields in the bond market eased concerns that higher borrowing costs would hinder economic recovery.

Time Warner Inc on Thursday made official plans to separate its AOL division sometime around the end of this year, a widely expected move that sheds one of the media company's weakest divisions.

Stocks climbed more than 1 percent on Thursday as higher oil prices drove up energy shares and falling yields in the bond market eased concerns that higher borrowing costs would hinder economic recovery.

Stocks climbed on Thursday as rising oil prices drove up shares of energy companies and falling yields in the bond market eased concerns that higher borrowing costs would delay an economic recovery.

Stocks climbed on Thursday as rising oil prices drove up energy shares and data on orders for durable goods signaled the economy was stabilizing.

Stocks rose on Thursday as energy and commodity shares climbed on higher oil prices and after results of a Treasury bond auction eased any fresh worries over demand for government debt.

Stocks rose on Thursday as a surge in crude oil prices lifted energy shares, sending the benchmark S&P 500 to a session high.

U.S. stocks rose on Thursday, as a rise in oil prices boosted energy shares, overshadowing mixed economic data on housing sales and manufacturing orders.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Thursday after key government data indicated the recession may be abating while investors eyed a looming bankruptcy for General Motors.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Thursday ahead of key U.S. durable good orders and new home sales data, while the market eyed General Motors as it slid closer to bankruptcy.

Stock index futures pared gains on Thursday, after the release of an outlook by Dow component Procter & Gamble , and ahead of key U.S. durable good orders and new home sales data.

Asian shares retreated from seven-months highs on Thursday as concerns grew that rising yields on U.S. government debt could push up borrowing costs and choke off a potential recovery in the world's largest economy.

Japan's Nikkei stock average edged down 0.1 percent in choppy trade on Thursday, with losses in exporters such as Sony Corp on fears about the U.S. economy narrowly outweighing support from shippers and auto shares.

Japan's Nikkei stock average nudged down 0.2 percent on Thursday, with losses in exporters such as Sony Corp on concern about the U.S. economy narrowly outweighing support from shippers and defensive shares. Nippon Steel climbed 2.3 percent after the Nikkei business daily said the steelmaker planned to raise its capacity utilization rate from the current 50 percent to 60 to 70 percent as early as...