EQUITIES

Crude oil futures slumped on Thursday as the dollar index strengthened on fresh euro zone credit woes, while the focus remained on Libya, where the escalating violence triggered fears that the country's oil infrastructure could suffer long-lasting damage.

Stock index futures fell on Thursday after a rating downgrade of Spain rekindled concerns over euro zone debt problems and weak Chinese trade data heightened global growth worries.

U.S. stock index futures fell on Thursday after a rating downgrade of Spain rekindled concerns over euro zone debt problems and weak Chinese trade data heightened global growth worries.

Wall Street is set to open lower on Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq down 0.3-0.6 percent at 1019 GMT.

European stocks and the euro retreated on Thursday after Moody's downgraded Spain, reigniting worries over the euro zone debt crisis, while ongoing violence in Libya kept Brent crude hovering around $116.

Asian stock markets and copper prices fell on Thursday after surprisingly weak Chinese trade data hit markets already nervous that higher oil prices will cut global growth.

A corrupt man or a legitimate stock researcher?

U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday, as a weak outlook from Texas Instruments weighed on the Nasdaq and pushed an index of chip makers below a key technical level in a worrisome sign for the market's six-month uptrend.

Shares of International Business Machines Corp hit a lifetime high on Wednesday as analysts welcomed the tech giant's commitment to double its profit by 2015.

The Dow rebounded on Wednesday with a jump in IBM's stock on its 2015 outlook, but the Nasdaq fell as a weaker-than-expected earnings target from Texas Instruments weighed on the chip sector.

Stocks were poised for a lower open on Wednesday, with oil prices edging higher on continued turmoil in Libya, and as a bond auction in Portugal failed to ease concerns the country would need a bailout.

Stock index futures edged higher on Wednesday as oil prices held steady after an OPEC official said the group saw no need for a meeting to discuss raising output even as turmoil in Libya continued.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Wednesday as oil prices held steady after an OPEC official said the group saw no need for an emergency meeting to discuss raising its output even as turmoil in Libya continued.

Wall Street was set to edge higher on Wednesday, with futures for the S&P 500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq flat to 0.2 percent higher at 1020 GMT.

Concerns about the euro zone debt crisis weighed on world stocks and lifted Portugal's yields to a new euro-era peak on Wednesday, while crude oil held steady off highs following reassurances on supply from OPEC states.

Oil prices fell further on Wednesday as OPEC considered raising production, pushing up Asian stocks, although investors remained on edge because of the turmoil in the Middle East.

Oil prices fell for a second day on Wednesday as OPEC considered raising production, pushing up Asian stocks although investors remained on edge because of the turmoil in the Middle East.

An upbeat profit forecast from Bank of America and a pullback in oil prices lifted Wall Street out of the technical danger zone on Tuesday in another sign of the market's near-term resilience.

U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday after an upbeat profit forecast from Bank of America and a pullback in oil prices, which could lead to further gains if the Dow mounts a key level.

Stocks jumped on Tuesday after a pullback in oil prices and an upbeat profit forecast from Bank of America, but technical signals still suggested a market correction was near.

U.S. stocks were flat on Tuesday as continued turmoil in Libya indicated a quick resolution to the unrest in that country was not on the horizon and a drop in oil prices failed to ease investor worry about the economic recovery.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a flat open on Tuesday as more turmoil in Libya indicated a resolution was not close and a drop in oil prices failed to ease investor worry about the economic recovery.

Stock index futures rose on Tuesday as oil prices pulled back on prospects of an OPEC production hike after recent turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa caused a spike in prices.

Oil prices fell more than $1 a barrel on Tuesday, pulling away from two-and-a-half year highs, but Asian stocks remained under pressure as investors worried higher energy prices could stunt the global economic recovery.

Technology stocks sold off on Monday, with the Nasdaq teetering on a key technical support level as uncertainty over higher oil prices looks set to drive volatility in the days ahead.

Technology stocks sold off after a brokerage downgrade on Monday, leading the market lower, while uncertainty over higher oil prices looked set to drive volatility in the days ahead.

Technology shares led U.S. stocks lower after a downgrade of semiconductors on Monday, helping push the sector below a key technical level, which could mean further losses.

Stocks fell further in early afternoon trading on Monday, with the Nasdaq declining more than 2 percent and the Dow and S&P 500 down more than 1 percent each.

Stocks fell on Monday, weighed down by a downgrade of the semiconductor sector and worries about the effect of higher oil prices on the economy, which is unlikely to change soon.