Bhaskar Prasad

China's announcement of the unexpected interest rate cut this week has given an indication to market players that policymakers are increasingly rattled by the state of the economy.

Most Asian markets rose this week as investor confidence was boosted by expectations of stimulus measures from central banks globally to regain the economic growth momentum.

U.S. stock index futures point to a slightly lower open Friday as the interest rate cuts announced by central banks in Europe and China on Thursday failed to convince investors that the measures will be sufficient to rejuvenate the struggling global economy.

European markets fell Friday as investors were not encouraged by the rate cuts announced by central banks.

Asian markets fell Friday as central bank measures in Europe and China could not allay investor concerns about the intensifying debt crisis looming over the euro zone and the worsening global economic downturn.

U.S. stock index futures point to a slightly lower opening Thursday ahead of a crucial European Central Bank meeting in Frankfurt where a cut in interest rates is likely to be announced.

European markets fell Thursday as investors remained watchful ahead of a meeting of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt where the bank will take a decision on interest rates.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has raised the credit rating of the Philippines, citing that the country's fiscal flexibility is gradually increasing and the debt profile is improving.

Asian markets fell Thursday with the revival of investor concerns about the euro zone?s debt crisis intensifying and the economic downturn deepening.

European markets fell Wednesday, but investors continued to expect that the central banks would coordinate to announce stimulus measures to regain the growth momentum.

Though China's services activity grew in June, it declined to a ten-month low, according to the HSBC Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) released Wednesday.

Asian markets rose Wednesday as investors continued to be hopeful that central banks all over the world would soon announce stimulus measures to tackle the weakening global economy.

Renesas Electronics Corp (TYO: 6723), a leading Japanese semiconductor manufacturer, said that it is letting go 5000 employees in an effort to restructure the organization and bring the company back to black.

U.S. stock index futures point to a mixed opening Tuesday amid hopes that the Federal Reserve will announce stimulus measures to tackle the faltering economy and revive growth.

European markets rose Tuesday amid expectation that central banks around the world would coordinate to announce stimulus measures to rejuvenate the global economic growth.

Asian markets rose Tuesday as investor confidence was boosted by expectation for stimulus measures from central banks globally.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open Monday as investor sentiment turned positive with indications of improvement in business conditions in Asia and also continued optimism on the measures taken at the EU summit.

Most European markets rose Monday as investors were encouraged by the hopeful economic indications from Asia and also the measures taken at the EU summit last week.

Most Asian markets rose Monday amid indications of improving business conditions in Japan and on continued optimism about the measures taken in the EU summit to alleviate the euro zone debt burden.

India's economic growth is faltering as a result of weak governance, policy paralysis and opposition to reforms by the present government. These have dragged down the investor confidence.

Most Asian markets rose this week as investor sentiment turned positive with the announcement of measures at the EU summit in Brussels aimed at alleviating the current debt crisis gripping the euro zone.

Ever since the International Olympic Committee awarded London the 2012 Olympic games, many questions have been raised about the games' costs and benefits to the city.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open Friday as euro zone leaders at a Brussels summit agreed upon emergency measures to lower Italy's and Spain's borrowing costs and create a single regulatory oversight body for euro zone banks.

European markets rose Friday following encouraging announcements at the European Union summit in Brussels, where EU leaders are tackling the debt crisis threatening the financial union.

Japan's industrial production declined in May from the previous month, according to data released by the Trade Ministry Friday.

Most Asian markets rose Friday as investors remained hopeful that policymakers would reach an agreement on bold steps to save the euro zone at the EU summit.

U.S. stock index futures declined Thursday morning, pointing to a lower opening on Wall Street ahead of a decisive European Union summit in Brussels, where EU leaders will meet to tackle the euro zone debt crisis head on. The summit will take place June 28-29.

European markets rose Thursday following encouraging data from the U.S., but investors remain watchful ahead of the European Union summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, where leaders will discuss tackling the EU debt crisis with concrete measures

Japan?s retail sales growth slowed down in the year to May compared to April indicating that private consumption is getting affected by the faltering global economic conditions.