EQUITIES

Deere & Co , the world's largest maker of agricultural machinery, said on Wednesday that quarterly earnings fell 38 percent as lower crop prices and farmers' concerns about the global recession weighed on demand for tractors and harvesters.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wednesday as investors remained optimistic the worst of the economic slowdown was abating.

World stocks rose for the fourth session in a row on Wednesday, despite overnight losses on Wall Street, lifting demand for higher-yielding currencies.

The Australian dollar and emerging market currencies slid on Wednesday as investors began to question how much longer a near three-month rally in riskier assets can last without evidence of a sustained economic recovery.

Japan's Nikkei stock index rose 0.4 percent on Wednesday with trading houses up after a brokerage upgraded Mitsubishi Corp, but gains were limited as a slightly firmer yen dragged on exporters such as Honda Motor Co.

The Nikkei stock average rose 0.4 percent on Wednesday, shrugging off data showing Japan's biggest economic contraction on record, with high commodity prices buoying trading houses such as Mitsubishi Corp .

The Dow and S&P 500 slipped on Tuesday as financial shares sank and on disappointing housing data, but the Nasdaq rose as investors snapped up technology shares ahead of results from Hewlett Packard .

The Dow and S&P 500 slipped on Tuesday as financial shares sank and on disappointing housing data, but the Nasdaq rose as investors snapped up technology shares ahead of results from Hewlett Packard .

Stocks rose for a second day on Tuesday as investors snapped up shares in the technology sector ahead of results from Hewlett Packard , betting the tech bellwether may be the latest company to beat estimates.

Stocks moved higher on Tuesday as investors bet that April's slide in U.S. housing starts and permits signaled that the housing market may soon stabilize as the supply of new homes dwindles.

Stocks were little changed on Tuesday as data suggesting no let-up in the housing slump tempered investors' hopes that the recession was moderating.

Stocks were set to fall at the open on Tuesday after data showed new U.S. housing starts and permits unexpectedly slid to record lows in April, tempering hopes of economic stabilization.

Saks Inc posted a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss on Tuesday as the upscale retailer worked to cut inventory and costs to offset a steep drop in sales, sending its shares up more than 10 percent.

Stock index futures rose on Tuesday, positioning Wall Street to recoup the rest of last week's losses, as upbeat quarterly results from Home Depot Inc bolstered hopes the economic downturn was easing.

World stocks rose for a third day running on Tuesday with banking stocks leading the gains in Europe, while oil hit a six-month peak.

Japan's Nikkei stock average jumped 3.2 percent on Tuesday, with Honda Motor Co and other exporters gaining after the yen retreated against the dollar.

Stocks rallied on Monday as better-than-expected results from the No. 2 U.S. home improvement retailer, Lowe's Cos Inc , helped spark broad-based buying on hopes the recession is easing and consumer spending is stabilizing.

State Street Corp said it plans to sell $1.5 billion of stock and will also sell notes to help repay government bailout funds, and took a $3.7 billion charge to move some assets onto its balance sheet at a loss.

Stocks rose on Monday as solid results from the No. 2 U.S. home improvement retailer, Lowe's Cos Inc , fueled hopes the recession was easing and consumer spending stabilizing.

U.S. stocks rose on light volume on Monday as a better-than-expected quarterly profit and upbeat outlook from Lowe's Cos Inc , the No. 2 U.S. home improvement retailer, fueled hopes the economic slump was easing and spending was stabilizing.

Lowe's Cos Inc posted better-than-expected quarterly profit on Monday as it saw some strength in outdoor projects like gardens and lawns in the spring, even as consumers still shunned big home renovations.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc said on Friday it had modestly raised its stakes in Wells Fargo and US Bancorp , two banks whose market values have fallen dramatically.

Stocks extended gains on Monday as a solid quarterly profit and raised forecast from Lowe's Cos Inc , the No. 2 U.S. home improvement retailer, heightened hopes the economic slump was easing and spending was stabilizing.

Stocks rose on Monday as a solid quarterly profit and raised forecast from Lowe's Cos Inc , the No. 2 U.S. home improvement retailer, fueled hopes the economic slump was easing and spending was stabilizing.

Stocks opened higher on Monday as stronger-than-expected quarterly results from No. 2 U.S. home improvement chain Lowe's Cos Inc boosted hopes the recession was abating and spending was stabilizing.

Stocks headed for a higher open on Monday as stronger-than-expected quarterly results from No. 2 U.S. home improvement chain Lowe's Cos Inc boosted hopes the recession was abating and spending was stabilizing.

Stock index futures rose on Monday as stronger-than-expected quarterly results from No. 2 U.S. home improvement chain Lowe's Cos Inc further boosted hopes the recession was abating and spending was stabilizing.

Lowe's Cos Inc posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Monday and raised its forecast for the year, sending its shares up 11.1 percent in premarket trade.

Equities in Europe and Japan fell on Monday although emerging markets got a big boost from Indian elections which raised hopes of a stable, pro-economic reform government.