EQUITIES

World stocks approached their highest level since September 2008 on Thursday on optimism about global growth next year, while the dollar fell on expectations of further money printing in 2011 by the U.S. Federal Reserve.

World stocks approached their highest level since September 2008 on Thursday on optimism about global growth next year, while the dollar fell on expectations of further money printing in 2011 by the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Stocks were set to open slightly higher on Thursday, adding to gains from the previous session, with futures for the Dow Jones, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq all up by around 0.1 percent by 0900 GMT (4 a.m. ET).

Japanese stocks ended the year with a whimper on Thursday as a stronger yen knocked shares of major exporters lower, but markets elsewhere in Asia rose, cementing solid gains for 2010 led by a near 50 percent rally for Indonesia.

Wall Street executives may face smaller bonuses and a public that still eyes them with suspicion, but that isn't stopping them from rediscovering their love of luxury cars, oceanfront homes and private jets.

U.S. stocks advanced in a thinly traded session on Wednesday with the S&P 500 eyeing its best December in nearly two decades as investors remained optimistic about the prospects for equities next year.

Overseas shares traded in the United States were higher in a quiet session on Wednesday, with commodity stocks leading the way in a rebound from recent declines.

U.S. stocks advanced on Wednesday as investors remained bullish about the prospects for equities in 2011, keeping a December rally intact.

U.S. stocks index futures rose on Wednesday, indicating stocks were poised to extend a December rally as investors remained optimistic the global economic rebound will continue in 2011.

U.S. stocks were set for a modestly higher open on Wednesday, indicating stocks were on track to extend a December rally as investors remained bullish about the prospects of a global economic rebound in 2011.

General Motors Co shares rose as much as 3.1 percent and closed 2.1 percent higher on Tuesday after banks resumed coverage of the automaker with high marks for its strong post-bailout balance sheet and its position in emerging markets.

Asian shares rose on Wednesday, with Japan's Nikkei maintaining a fourth quarter rally as investors hunted bargains in one of the developed world's cheapest markets, but Australia's main index lagged as bad weather hit shares in mining heavyweights.

General Motors Co shares rose as much as 2.5 percent in midday trading on Tuesday after banks resumed coverage of the automaker with high marks for its North American sales and position in emerging markets.

The Dow and S&P 500 rose in light trading on Tuesday, extending December's rally, as cold weather in the Northeast lifted oil prices and energy shares.

Energy and material stocks led gainers on the S&P 500 on Tuesday in a thinly traded session in which major indexes barely budged.

U.S. stocks were little changed on Tuesday as investors were reluctant to take large positions in either direction and largely shrugged off weaker-than-expected data on consumer confidence and home prices.

U.S. stocks were set for a modestly higher open on Tuesday ahead of an expected lift in a measure of U.S. consumer confidence, indicating the economic recovery remained on track to sustain the year-end rally.

U.S. stock index futures climbed on Tuesday ahead of an expected higher reading on U.S. consumer confidence, as Japanese production rose, indicating the global economic recovery was on track and adding fuel to a year-end rally.

Stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Wall Street on Tuesday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.2 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.08 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.02 percent at 1000 GMT (5 a.m. ET).

U.S. stocks closed little changed and the dollar lost ground to the euro in thin trade on Monday, buffeted by China's Christmas Day interest rate hike and a blizzard that pounded the northeastern United States.

Wall Street erased earlier losses and ended little changed on Monday as investors shrugged off a surprise weekend interest rate hike from China's central bank.

U.S. stocks were slightly lower on Monday in a thinly traded session after a surprise interest rate hike from China's central bank over the weekend.

Shares of Tesla Motors fell about 13 percent on Monday, the day the electric carmaker's lock-up period expired, flooding the stock market with shares.

China's Christmas Day interest rate rise and a severe blizzard that blanketed the northeastern United States left U.S. share prices weak and the U.S. dollar lower in thinly traded markets on Monday.

U.S. stocks slipped on Monday as a surprise interest rate hike from China's central bank over the weekend prompted investors, worried about demand, to sell equities.

Wall Street was set for a lower open on Monday as shares fell globally following a surprise interest rate increase from China's central bank.

U.S. stock index futures were lower on Monday as shares fell globally following a surprise interest rate increase from China's central bank.

Chinese shares slid and European stocks followed suit on Monday as the impact of China's Christmas Day interest rate rise sunk in to thin markets.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Monday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.45 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.44 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.16 percent at 0850 GMT (3:50 a.m. ET).