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Stocks gained after a week of heightened volatility on Friday, but investors were reluctant to make big bets due to turmoil in the Middle East and Japan's nuclear crisis.

Stocks rallied on Friday after a week of volatility, but light trading volume suggested investors are still reluctant to make big bets due to turmoil in the Middle East and Japan's nuclear crisis.

Stocks advanced on Friday after the Group of Seven intervened to support the Japanese yen and major banks were cleared to pay dividends again, but investors are unlikely to make big bets heading into the weekend.

Stocks rose on Friday as the Group of Seven nations moved to calm markets amid Japan's crisis and as Brent oil slipped, but investors are likely to stay cautious heading into the weekend.

U.S. stocks bounced for a second day on Friday as Group of Seven nations moved to calm markets rattled by Japan's nuclear crisis and oil prices fell after Libya said it would cease military actions.

Wall Street was set to open higher for a second day on Friday as Group of Seven nations moved to calm markets rattled by Japan's nuclear crisis and oil prices fell after Libya said it would cease military actions.

Futures bounced back for a second day on Friday but Japan's nuclear crisis and rising oil prices on possible military action against Libya could keep Wall Street on track for its worst week in seven months.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher opening on Wall Street on Friday, with futures for the S&P 500, for the Dow Jones and for the Nasdaq 100 up 0.4-0.7 percent.

The publisher of adult magazine Penthouse has renewed plans to sell shares in an initial public offering, using the money to pay down debt.

Stocks gained on Thursday, bouncing back after three days of declines as investors searched for bargains, but the near-term outlook is bearish as Japan's crisis keeps investors cautious.

U.S. stocks advanced on Thursday, bouncing back after three days of declines as investors searched for bargains, but the near-term outlook remains bearish.

The publisher of adult magazine Penthouse said it plans to sell shares in an initial public offering, using the money to pay down debt.

Stocks were poised to bounce back at the open on Thursday, a day after Wall Street wiped out most of its gains for the year, but Japan's nuclear crisis was set to drive trading in another volatile session for markets.

The yen briefly hit record highs versus the dollar on Thursday as quake-hit Japan's nuclear crisis unleashed a global risk sell-off, while world stocks traded higher after Tokyo stocks came off earlier lows.

Stock index futures bounced on Thursday, a day after Wall Street wiped out much of its gains for the year, but news on Japan's nuclear crisis was set to drive trading in another volatile day for markets.

Stock index futures bounced back on Thursday, a day after Wall Street wiped out much of its gains for the year, but increasing worry over Japan's nuclear crisis was set to drive trading in another volatile day for markets.

The yen surged to a record high against the dollar and Asian shares fell on Thursday after U.S. officials said the risk of a catastrophic radiation leak from an earthquake-stricken Japanese nuclear plant was rising.

The yen surged to a record high against the dollar and shares in Japan and elsewhere in Asia fell on Thursday after U.S. officials said the risk of a catastrophic radiation leak from an earthquake-stricken Japanese nuclear plant was rising.

The S&P and Nasdaq dropped into negative territory for the year on Wednesday in a crush of trading on the perception Japan's nuclear crisis would continue to be a headwind for equities.

A rare Wall Street downgrade stoked fears that Apple Inc's torrid growth is slowing and sent its shares sliding for the second straight day as nervous investors ponder the impact on the tech industry from Japan's largest-ever earthquake.

Apple Inc shares slid for a second straight day after a rare broker downgrade stoked worries that the company's torrid pace of growth will slow.

A rare Wall Street downgrade stoked fears that Apple Inc's torrid pace of growth is slowing, sending shares in the world's largest technology company sliding for the second straight day.

Stocks slumped more than 2 percent on Wednesday in a third day of selling resulting from Japan's crisis, and analysts saw further market volatility

U.S. stocks sank for a third day on Wednesday as worries about Japan's nuclear crisis escalated, and analysts saw more volatility ahead for the market.

Stocks edged lower on Wednesday after surging U.S. producer price and weak housing data, while investors were buffeted by Middle East political uncertainty and a nuclear crisis in Japan.

Wall Street was set to open near breakeven on Wednesday following volatile futures trading after surging U.S. producer price and weak housing data, while investors were buffeted by Middle East political uncertainty and a nuclear crisis in Japan.

U.S. stock index futures fell in volatile trade on Wednesday as Japan struggled with a nuclear crisis and as clashes in Bahrain lifted oil prices, with uncertainty set to drive near-term trading.

Stock index futures fell on Wednesday as Japan struggled with a nuclear crisis and as clashes in Bahrain lifted oil prices, with uncertainty set to drive near-term trading.

Japanese stocks rebounded on Wednesday from a major pummeling that some investors thought overdone, lifting equities elsewhere and allowing the yen to dip from a near record high against the dollar.