EQUITIES

Stock index futures rose on Monday, feeding bullish hopes that the recent selling would ebb after last week's wild swings took the S&P 500 near a one-year low.

World stocks climbed further out of their August hole on Monday, lifted by signs of earlier-than-expected recovery in Japan and a growing belief that shares may now be cheap.

Shell-shocked stock investors will search this week for calm to return to markets after the worst three weeks for stocks in 2-1/2 years.

Shell-shocked stock investors will search next week for calm to return to markets after the worst three weeks for stocks in 2 1/2 years.

After one of the most volatile weeks in memory, U.S. stocks ended higher on Friday in a tentative sign that the worst of the selling may be over.

A new normal of near-zero U.S. interest rates will limit the earnings potential of discount brokers this quarter and offset a boost in fee income as investors step up trading to keep up with wild market swings.

After one of the most volatile weeks in memory, U.S. stocks ended higher on Friday in a tentative sign that the worst of the selling may be over.

Stocks rose on Friday as mildly encouraging retail sales overshadowed weak consumer sentiment data, with lighter volume reflecting a drop in investor anxiety.

U.S. stocks rose about 1 percent on Friday as mildly encouraging retail sales put the S&P on track for a two-day winning streak for the first time since mid-July as investors shrugged off weak consumer sentiment data.

U.S. stocks rose about 1 percent on Friday as mildly encouraging retail sales put the S&P on track for a two-day winning streak for the first time since mid-July as investors shrugged off weak consumer sentiment data.

Stocks rose on Friday as mildly upbeat retail sales data offset a weak reading on consumer sentiment, with the S&P on course to notch up a second winning day.

Stocks rose on Friday, extending the previous session's sharp rise as data showed retail sales posted their biggest gain since March.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Friday after the previous day's big move up as data showed retail sales posted their biggest gain since March.

U.S. futures were higher on Friday, signaling stocks would extend the previous day's big gains, after a rally in Europe and another strong outlook from a technology company.

U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Friday as investors took a step back from the massive volatility that has shaken markets recently.

PARIS/MADRID - A ban on short-selling financial stocks in four European countries including France takes effect on Friday, a coordinated attempt to restore confidence in markets hit by rumors and higher borrowing costs.

U.S. stock futures slid 1 percent on Friday, pulling Asian shares off early highs, as sentiment remained cautious on concerns over the European debt crisis, which will probably keep supporting safe havens like gold and Swiss franc.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has asked rating agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) to disclose which employees knew of its decision to downgrade U.S. debt before it was announced last week, the Financial Times said, citing people familiar with the matter.

Spain's stock market regulator, the CNMV, said on Thursday it banned short selling on financial stocks for 15 days from August 11 and added it would extend the period if necessary.

Chinese social networking site Renren Inc posted a small quarterly profit as online advertisement segment rose, but forecast third-quarter revenue largely below market expectations, sending its shares down 8 percent in aftermarket trade.

Stocks shot up 4 percent on Thursday as bargain-hungry investors overcame the recent wave of fear that drove selling over the last two weeks.

Stocks rose 4 percent on Thursday as the market bounced back from its recent pummeling and investors cheered results from Cisco and U.S. jobless claims data.

Stocks jumped on Thursday as solid results from Cisco and mildly encouraging U.S. jobs data gave investors an excuse to scoop up shares beaten down in several days of sharp selling.

Shares in Rupert Murdoch's News Corp rose as much as 15 percent in early trading on Thursday, a day after the company's management posted solid quarterly results, gave a healthy full-year outlook and promised a more aggressive buy back.

Stocks rallied on Thursday as solid results from Cisco and mildly encouraging U.S. jobs data gave investors the motivation to scoop up shares beaten down after several days of sharp selling.

Stocks advanced more than 2 percent on Thursday in another volatile session as upbeat results from Cisco and a better-than-expected labor market report offset renewed concerns about the euro zone banking system.

Stock index futures pointed to a flat open and another session of volatility on Thursday as renewed concerns about the euro zone banking system pushed down European shares.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a flat open and another session of volatility on Thursday as renewed concerns about the euro zone banking system pushed down European shares.

Some $4 trillion has been wiped off the value of world stocks this month on concerns the euro zone debt crisis is spreading to Italy and Spain and hurting Europe's banking system, and the global economy is falling into recession.