EQUITIES

Stocks sank on Thursday as data fueled worries the economy was weakening and bank shares tumbled on fears the European financial crisis could spread havoc to other parts of the world.

U.S. stocks tumbled 3 percent in early trading on Thursday, weighed down by bank shares, as a report that regulators were intensifying their review of European banks' U.S. units shook up investors.

Stocks dropped sharply on Thursday as data fueled worries the economy was weakening and bank shares tumbled on fears the European financial crisis could spread havoc to other parts of the world.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a sharply lower open on Thursday as a report that regulators were intensifying their review of European banks' U.S. units shook up investors.

History suggests the misery suffered by stock investors this summer should end soon, even if relying on precedent seems risky in this year of surprises.

The Justice Department is investigating whether Standard & Poor's improperly rated dozens of mortgage securities in the years before the financial crisis, The New York Times reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Stock index futures sank on Thursday as a gloomy forecast on global growth and continuing worries about the European debt crisis shook up investors ahead of data on jobless claims and consumer prices.

Stock index futures pointed to a sharply lower open on Wall Street on Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 2 percent, Dow Jones futures down 1.5 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures down 2.2 percent at 5:17 a.m. EDT.

European equities followed Asian stocks lower on Thursday as investors fretting about the global growth outlook cut exposure to riskier assets, while the Swiss franc fell on talk the central bank was intervening in the forwards market.

European shares looked set to follow Asia lower on Thursday as investors in that region locked in profits on worries about faltering global demand, while the Swiss franc fell sharply on speculation the Swiss central bank was intervening in the forwards market.

Hewlett-Packard Co must convince Wall Street it can reverse a string of disappointing results, weather a drought in technology spending and deliver growth again when it reports earnings on Thursday.

By the complaints coming from Washington, you might think that the Standard & Poor's credit rating service is a big headache for its owner, the McGraw-Hill Companies Inc .

Stocks slipped on Wednesday, reversing gains of more than 1 percent, as weak results from Dell dragged down the largest U.S. personal computer makers and offset recent upbeat earnings and outlooks from retailers, including Target Corp .

Stocks rose on Wednesday, buoyed by earnings reports from consumer bellwethers like Target.

Stock index futures rose on Wednesday as investors focused on strong earnings reports and as commodities and the euro gained, indicating more willingness to add to risky assets.

Stock index futures rose on Wednesday alongside oil prices and the euro, indicating a shift to risky assets ahead of U.S. inflation data.

Stock futures pointed to a lower open for Wall Street on Wednesday, with investors feeling that Tuesday's meeting between French and German leaders failed to make significant progress on the euro zone sovereign debt crisis.

World stocks and the euro slipped on Wednesday as investors grew concerned that French and German plans for closer fiscal integration may be insufficient to stop the regional debt crisis from spreading further.

U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday after three days of gains when a meeting between the heads of France and Germany failed to quell fears about euro zone leaders' ability to contain the region's sovereign debt woes.

U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday after three days of gains when a meeting between the heads of France and Germany failed to quell fears about euro zone leaders' ability to contain the region's sovereign debt woes.

Fitch Ratings on Tuesday confirmed the United States' top-notch credit rating and, in blatant disagreement with rival Standard & Poor's, gave a vote of confidence to Washington's deficit-reduction efforts.

Wall Street stocks fell on Tuesday after a meeting of the heads of France and Germany failed to quell market fears about euro zone leaders' ability to contain the region's sovereign debt woes.

Stocks dropped more than 1 percent on Tuesday as German growth data and a meeting of French and German leaders failed to ease worries about the euro zone debt crisis.

Stocks dropped more than 1 percent on Tuesday as German growth data and a meeting of French and German leaders failed to ease worries about the euro zone debt crisis.

Stocks fell on Tuesday after three days of gains as weak German growth data renewed concerns about the euro zone debt crisis and the global economy.

Stock index futures fell sharply on Tuesday after an unexpectedly low reading on growth in Germany held back the euro zone and rekindled fears the global economy was stagnant.

Stocks fell in early trading on Tuesday after three days of gains as data showed sluggish German growth hobbled the euro zone, rekindling fears of a stagnant global economy.

Stocks were set to open lower on Tuesday after three days of gains as data showed sluggish German growth hobbled the euro zone, rekindling fears over a stagnant global economy.

Stock index futures pointed to a weaker open for equities on Wall Street on Tuesday, with futures for the S&P 500, for the Dow Jones and for the Nasdaq 100 down 0.6 to 1.0 percent.