Bhaskar Prasad

Japan’s retail sales rose less than expected in September indicating that consumer spending, which accounts for the majority of overall economic activity, continues to falter.

With China’s manufacturing activity continuing to remain in contraction, market participants have renewed their call for urgent policy easing measures in the coming months to attain a firmer growth recovery.

Asian markets fell in the week with investor sentiment turning negative following the disappointing corporate earnings in the U.S. indicating that the global economic growth momentum continues to falter.

The U.S. stock index futures point to a lower open Friday as investor confidence was weighed down by the fear that the corporate earnings will be affected by the faltering global economic growth momentum.

European markets fell Thursday as investor sentiment was weighed down by the anticipation that the consumer confidence data for France and Germany to be reported later in the day might confirm the gloomy outlook for household consumption.

Japan’s government announced a stimulus package of 422.6 billion yen ($5.3 billion) as a measure to bolster the weakening economy and revive the economic growth momentum.

The U.S. stock index futures point to a higher open Thursday ahead of the Labor Department's weekly jobless claims data and the Census Bureau's durable goods orders data.

Most of the European markets rose Thursday as investors remained hopeful that Greece would soon receive a bailout package required to overcome its economic and financial instability.

With Infosys Technologies Ltd, a major Indian software services firm, reporting this month a disappointing guidance for the future sales subsequent to the uncertainties in the global economy, industry experts are worried that India’s IT outsourcing industry is under stress of the weakening economic conditions around the world.

Asian markets rose Thursday as investor sentiment was lifted with the encouraging report on the rise of the new homes sales in the U.S., in an indication that the world’s largest economy is regaining the growth momentum.

European markets remained in a tight range Tuesday as investors maintained a cautious mode amid the revival of concerns of the debt burden faced by the euro zone with persisting financial instability in Greece and Spain.

Most of the Asian markets rose Tuesday amid hopes that the Bank of Japan will soon announce stimulus measures to regain the economic growth momentum.

The U.S. stock index futures point to a higher open Monday as investors hope that the corporate earnings to be reported this week will indicate that the economy is recovering and regaining the growth momentum.

European markets fell Monday as investor sentiment turned negative with the revival of concerns over the debt crisis affecting the euro zone following the continuing financial instability in Greece and the delay in Spain asking for a bailout officially.

Japan reported Monday a rise in trade deficit in September compared to the same month last year with a decrease in exports and increase in imports.

Most of the Asian markets fell Monday as investor confidence was weighed down by the report that Japan's trade deficit increased in September compared to the same month last year, raising concerns about the faltering global economy.

The Reserve Bank of India is expected to ease the rates at the forthcoming policy meeting Oct. 30 amid the growing concerns about the deteriorating growth prospects of the country's economy.

Asian markets gained in the week with investor sentiment turning positive as a rise in the U.S. retail sales and industrial production indicated an improvement in the growth prospects of the world’s largest economy.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open Friday as investors remained watchful with concerns that corporate earnings would be affected by the sluggish global economic growth.

European markets fell Friday as investors maintained a cautious mode waiting for the outcome of the European Council summit that concludes in Brussels later in the day.

Most of the Asian stocks fell Friday with investor sentiment turning negative as the quarterly results reported by Google and Microsoft missed analysts’ expectation, deepening the fear that the sluggish global economic growth would affect the corporate earnings.

The U.S. stock index futures point to a lower open Thursday ahead of the Labor Department's weekly jobless claims data.

European markets were mixed Thursday as investors were waiting for the results of the European Council summit starting in Brussels later in the day. The summit is expected to announce measures to control the debt crisis affecting the euro zone.

Asian stocks gained Thursday with investor sentiment turning positive as data from China showed that the world’s second largest economy grew as expected in the third quarter, decreasing the concerns about the rapidly worsening economic conditions.

According to the official data released Thursday, China’s industrial production rose in September compared to that in the previous month, indicating an upswing in the manufacturing output.

The U.S. stock index futures pointed to a slightly lower open Wednesday ahead of the Census Bureau’s data on housing starts and building permits.

European markets rose Wednesday as investor confidence was lifted by hopes that Spain will soon apply for a conditional credit line and hence trigger the European Central Bank’s new bond buying plan.

A U.S.-French research team has reported the discovery of a planet, named as "55 Cancri e," which is largely made up of diamond and is 40 light years away from earth.

Most of the Asian stocks gained Wednesday with investor sentiment turning positive as a rise in the U.S. industrial production indicated an improvement in manufacturing output in the world’s largest economy.