MARKETS / FINANCE

Stock index futures pointed to a weaker open on Wall Street on Monday after steep declines in the previous session, with futures for the S&P 500, for the Dow Jones and for the Nasdaq 100 down 0.6-0.9 percent.

World stocks kicked off the final quarter of the year sharply lower on Monday while the yen and government bonds rose as concerns grew that a broader Greek debt default may be in the works after figures showed Athens would miss a deficit target.

European Central Bank member Christian Noyer said on Monday it is unrealistic to expect an increase in Europe's bailout fund beyond what was agreed in July, but that he is open to schemes that would allow leveraging to expand capacity.

European Central Bank member Christian Noyer said on Monday it is unrealistic to expect an increase in Europe's bailout fund beyond what was agreed in July, but that he is open to schemes that would allow leveraging to expand capacity.

Barclays Plc and Bank Of America Corp are looking to sell their stakes in apartment company Archstone, a source familiar with the matter said on Sunday.

Greece will miss a deficit target set just months ago in a massive bailout package, according to government draft budget figures released on Sunday, showing that drastic steps taken to avert bankruptcy may not be enough.

Greece will miss the deficit targets set in its EU/IMF bailout this year and next as it faces worse-than-expected recession, sources said ahead of the adoption by the cabinet of the 2012 draft budget on Sunday.

Greece will miss 2011 and 2012 budget deficit targets set by the EU and the IMF, according to figures published by the finance ministry on Sunday after the cabinet adopted the draft 2012 budget.

Greece will miss deficit targets set just months ago in a massive bailout package, sources said citing a budget draft being adopted by the cabinet on Sunday, in a setback in Europe's efforts to stave off the country's bankruptcy.

Investors are worried U.S. earnings growth may finally fall back to earth as turmoil in Europe and signs of a less robust Chinese economy hurt foreign support.

The Greek cabinet is expected to approve a contentious plan Sunday to lay off state workers, and sign off on a draft of next year's budget, in a race to slash spending, free up bailout loans and stave off bankruptcy.

Slovakia's ruling coalition will have to reallocate cabinet posts or face a snap election unless it can find its own majority in parliament for a crucial vote on the euro zone's rescue fund, the main opposition party Smer said on Sunday.

Greece was expected to unveil its plan on Sunday to begin laying off state workers, the most contentious part of a reform package demanded by the EU and IMF to free up loans and stave off bankruptcy.

Will microprocessor giant Intel (INTC) benefit from a ripple-effect from the iPhone 5 Wave? Most likely that will be the cases, as millions of new customers in October consider the iPhone 5 and other technology products/gadgets -- and that's good news for Intel's operation.

Nouriel Dr. Doom Roubini, the NYU professor who four years ago accurately predicted the global financial crisis, says tough medicine is needed to end it: another round of massive fiscal stimulus or universal debt restructuring.

Greece hopes to clinch a deal with its EU and IMF lenders on how to meet a promise to lay off state workers -- a key condition to free up urgently needed bailout aid -- by Sunday, senior government officials said.

The Swiss National Bank's franc cap is at the right level for now and the government has more drastic measures up its sleeve to counter the currency's strength although it hopes it will not have to use them, the finance minister told Reuters on Saturday.

Citigroup is being investigated by Japanese regulators for possible infractions related to its marketing of financial products and could face its third major punishment in Japan in 7 years, a source with knowledge of the matter said.

Between 2006 and 2010, mail volume in the U.S. dropped by 20 percent, from 213 billion pieces to 170 billion. Over that span, the USPS lost $20 billion.

The lights went out. Hackers had infiltrated the chemical company's computer network. The firm's own experts ran around from computer to computer trying to fight back and regain control.

European countries must act decisively to resolve the euro zone debt crisis or risk having some member states forced out of the single currency, China's top newspaper said in a front page commentary on Saturday.

McGraw-Hill Companies Inc has enlisted executive recruiters Heidrick & Struggles International Inc to help in their search for a chief executive for its recently spun off education business, the Wall Street Journal said on Friday in its online edition.

China's factory activity picked up in September for a second month in a row and export orders strengthened, offering some reassurance that the world's second-largest economy can weather the global economic turmoil.

Global stocks closed their worst quarter in nearly three years on Friday on nagging concerns about the world economy and the lack of a credible solution to Europe's debt crisis.

A U.S. federal judge dismissed part of a case brought by European bond investors accusing Citigroup Inc and its directors of misrepresenting or failing to disclose Citi's exposure to toxic mortgage assets and its own solvency.

Stocks ended their worst quarter since the depths of the 2008 credit crisis, crippled by Europe's debt debacle, a U.S. credit downgrade and a sputtering global economy.

Stocks ended their worst quarter since the depths of the 2008 credit crisis, crippled by Europe's debt debacle, a U.S. credit downgrade and a sputtering global economy.

Consumers struggled to make ends meet in August as incomes fell for the first time in nearly two years, while a surge in Midwest manufacturing this month provided one bright spot in an otherwise weak economy.

Eastman Kodak Co shares lost more than half their value on Friday as the company hired a law firm well-known for bankruptcy cases, triggering speculation that the photography pioneer could file for bankruptcy.