European shares rise to new 12-month high
European shares hit a fresh one-year high on Thursday, with analysts pointing to third-quarter earnings beating forecasts, though mobile phone giant Nokia (NOK1V.HE) bucked the trend. At 1041 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top European shares was up 0.5 percent at 1,021.65 points, having risen as far as 1,022.26, the highest since Oct. 7, 2008.
FTSE down 0.1 percent ahead of U.S. bank results
Britain's top share index was 0.1 percent lower by mid-session Thursday, weighed on by weaker commodity stocks as metal prices fell, ahead of results from U.S. banks Citigroup (C.N) and Goldman Sachs (GS.N)
US STOCKS-Futures flat ahead of Citigroup, Goldman results
U.S. stock index futures were flat on Thursday, a day after the Dow Jones industrial average .DJI topped the key 10,000 level and ahead of quarterly results from Goldman Sachs and Citigroup.
Stock futures flat ahead of Citigroup, Goldman results
Stock futures were flat on Thursday, a day after the Dow Jones industrial average topped the key 10,000 level and ahead of quarterly results from Goldman Sachs and Citigroup.
Nokia reports surprise Q3 loss on networks hit
The world's top cellphone maker Nokia reported a surprise loss for the July-September quarter, hit by a major writedown at its networks unit, but said demand for handsets had improved.
GM, Magna set to sign Opel deal, job talks continue
U.S. carmaker General Motors was close to signing a deal to sell a 55 percent stake in its European arm Opel to Canada's Magna Thursday as talks continued with unions over job cuts.
Stock index futures edge higher; results eyed
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a slight increase in equities on Thursday after the Dow Jones Industrial average index pierced the 10,000 level in the previous session.
GM says ready to join GM Daewoo rights offer
The chief executive of General Motors Co reiterated on Thursday that the U.S. automaker would join a rights offering by its struggling South Korean unit, but gave no hint whether GM would put in as much as the unit's biggest creditor wants.
Are obese people less likely to commit suicide?
Obesity may lead to numerous health problems, but it may actually be linked to fewer successful suicides, according to a new study.
Flu drug Tamiflu boosts Roche sales in Q3
Roche beat forecasts with a 10 percent rise in third-quarter sales, helped by demand for Tamiflu due to the H1N1 swine flu pandemic, and the Swiss group now sees higher drug revenues for the full year.
U.S. broadband study says open access fosters competition
Open access policies have helped other leading industrialized nations develop more competitive broadband markets by lowering entry barriers, according to a study commissioned by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.
Buoyant earnings boost stocks, hit dollar
Buoyant corporate earnings lifted investors sentiment again on Thursday, sending world stocks to near 13-month highs.
Can fish for dinner lead to diabetes?
Making sure fish ends up on your dinner plate a couple of times a week may be a good way to cut your risk for developing heart disease, but it may not do the same for diabetes, new study findings hint.
AIG unit ILFC to repay $2 billion loan Thursday: report
American International Group Inc's jet-leasing unit International Lease Finance Corp is going to pay back $2 billion in short-term debt which is due Thursday, the Wall Street Journal said, citing company officials.
Asia shares hit 14-month highs; dollar slides
Asian shares rose to 14-month highs on Thursday after upbeat U.S. retail sales and earnings reports prompted a shift to riskier assets, pushing the U.S. dollar to a 14-month low and prompting Asian governments to step in to curb currency strength.
AB InBev sells eastern Europe ops to CVC for $2.2 billion
Anheuser-Busch InBev, has agreed to sell breweries in nine eastern European countries to CVC Capital Partners for an initial $2.23 billion, passing its target for divestments since its merger a year ago.
Roche benefits from Tamiflu sales as Q3 shines
Roche's third-quarter sales rose 10 percent to 12.4 billion Swiss francs ($12.2 billion), helped by its cancer drugs and increased demand for flu medicine Tamiflu due to the H1N1 pandemic.
Twitter goes to Aussie university
Social networking upstart Twitter has made the jump to academia's hallowed halls, with 'tweets' made compulsory writing for would-be journalists at an Australian university.
RIM launching new version of touchscreen BlackBerry
BlackBerry maker Research In Motion is launching a new version of its touchscreen Storm smartphone, marking its latest move in the fight with Apple's iPhone.
Roche sales beat forecasts, ups Tamiflu guidance
Roche's third-quarter sales rose 14 percent to 12.4 billion Swiss francs ($12.2 billion), helped by its cancer drugs and beating expectations, and it upped its forecast for flu medicine Tamiflu.
U.S. foreclosures fall 2nd straight month
U.S. mortgage foreclosure filings fell for a second straight month in September, but remained near a record high, amid ongoing and sweeping efforts to keep borrowers in their homes, a report released on Thursday showed.
Asia shares hit 14-month peak, dollar slumps
Asian shares rose to 14-month highs on Thursday as upbeat retail sales and surprisingly bullish earnings reports in the United States buoyed risk appetite, pushing the U.S. dollar to a 14-month low.
GM reiterates joining GM Daewoo rights offer: CEO
General Motors Co's CEO Fritz Henderson reiterated on Thursday the company would take part in any rights offer by its struggling South Korean unit.
New data technology trade rules needed: Microsoft
Countries need to forge new trade rules governing the movement of electronic data across borders as the world becomes increasingly connected, a Microsoft official said on Wednesday.
Trial lawyer defends Bear manager; U.S. cites lies
A lawyer for former Bear Stearns hedge fund manager Ralph Cioffi on Wednesday vigorously defended him against prosecution allegations he repeatedly lied to investors early in the financial crisis, describing as ridiculous one charge of insider trading.
U.S. SEC to consider rules for dark pools Wednesday
U.S. securities regulators will consider next Wednesday proposals to shed more light on dark pools, or venues where stock trades are hidden from public view, a notice on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website said.
CORRECTED: Trial lawyer defends Bear manager; U.S. cites lies
(Corrects by adding dropped words him against in paragraph one)
Calpers launches probe of placement agent fees
Calpers, the biggest U.S. public pension fund, said on Wednesday it is probing fees paid by outside money managers to win its business, expanding a review of pay-to-play schemes at public retirement systems that has spread across the nation.
Windows 7 release may test Apple's winning streak
Apple Inc's Mac computers have steadily gained market share over the years, a winning streak that may be tested by next week's launch of Microsoft Corp's new Windows 7 operating system.
Fed Sept meeting discussed raising asset purchases
U.S. Federal Reserve policy-makers last month discussed whether they should increase asset buying if the economic outlook worsened, and some argued that more aggressive purchases would aid the recovery.
