DOW JONES

Gold prices climbed from eastern Asia to Western Europe Monday as worries about Europe's sovereign debt crisis spreading to Italy offset news that Greece's prime minster will resign.

Stock index futures fell on Monday as political turmoil in Italy sparked worry the Eurozone debt crisis could consume the region's third largest economy.

Stock index futures pointed to a sharply lower open for equities on Wall Street on Monday, with futures for the S&P 500, for the Dow Jones and for the Nasdaq 100 down 1.2 to 1.3 percent.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has won a parliamentary confidence vote and avoided snap elections that would have affected Greece's bailout deal and the Eurozone's economic crisis.

Shares of Groupon rose from their $20 IPO price to close at $26.11, a 30.55 percent jump. However, the closing price was below its opening price of $28.

Stocks retreated on Friday after two days of gains as wealthier nations appeared to pull back from a European Union plan to broaden funding for a plan to deal with the region's sovereign debt crisis.

The Brazilian oil giant announced this week a new oil discovery in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and the starting up of its 104 megawatt wind farm in Brazil.

The U.S. economy added a modest 80,000 jobs in October -- below what economists expected -- but job gains for the prior two months were revised higher: September to 158,000 from the initially-released 103,000; and August to 104,000 from 57,000. And the latter suggests a job market that continues to heal.

Stocks were set to drop at the open on Friday, and a mixed report on the U.S. labor market could make trading volatile.

The uncertain outcome of Greece's sovereign debt crisis and its implications for Europe's economy kept U.S. stock futures mixed on Friday, with indexes little changed following two days of steep gains.

World stocks and the euro rose on Friday, boosted by expectations that Greece will avoid a referendum on a new bailout package, easing imminent concerns of a Greek default and its potential shockwaves through the euro zone.

U.S. federal drug regulators approved 35 drugs in fiscal 2011, a near decade record only beat in 2009, according to a report released Thursday.

Gold prices surged two percent Thursday after a surprise interest rate cut by the European Central Bank and Greece's prime minister abruptly dropping a widely denounced plan for a referendum on accepting bailout money.

Gold prices rose Thursday amid widespread uncertainty over whether Greece will leave the Eurozone or remain in the debt-plagued federation.

Stock index futures edged higher in choppy trade on Thursday on talk the Greek government might collapse, thus avoiding a referendum on a bailout plan and easing concerns about an imminent bailout.

Stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher opening for equities on Wall Street on Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500, for the Dow Jones and for the Nasdaq 100 up 0.1 to 0.2 percent.

Stocks pared gains and the Nasdaq Composite hit a session low in afternoon trading on Wednesday after a source said the European Union and International Monetary Fund will not release an 8 billion euro payment to Greece until after its planned referendum.

Stocks rebounded after two days of losses on Wednesday, aided by upbeat job market data as investors eyed a crisis meeting about Greece and a Federal Reserve policy session.

Corporations are booking huge third-quarter profits and sitting on gargantuan piles of cash -- and nothing could be less important.

Upbeat job market data helped stocks bounce off two days of losses on Wednesday, with a crisis meeting about Greece and the end of a U.S. monetary policy session also on investors' minds.

Stock index futures edged higher on Wednesday, following two days of sharp market losses, with developments in Greece and a U.S. monetary policy meeting in focus.