FTSE

Futures on major U.S. indices point to a slightly higher opening Friday ahead of the commencement of public trading of Facebook.

Futures on major U.S. indices point to a flat opening on Thursday ahead of economic data including weekly jobless claims

Political discord in Greece, voters punishing German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats, lower euro zone manufacturing output and China freeing up cash for lending all contributed to a global stocks slide as investors pursued the safe havens of government debt and the dollar.

European stocks plunged Monday as fears that Greece will leave the euro zone turned into a virtual consensus about the debt-choked nation's departure. The downdraft also hammered U.S. stocks, which opened sharply lower.

Bombay Stock Exchange's Sensex lost more than 100 points Monday afternoon trade as the slump in European markets and a worse-than-expected inflation for April hit the markets hard.

US stock index futures pointed to a lower opening Wednesday after posting strong gains in the previous session.

Good corporate earnings, falling Spanish interest rates and an upward revision in the International Monetary Fund's outlook for the U.S. economy on Tuesday offset a weak housing report to lift equities and industrial commodities.

Futures on major US indices point to a higher opening Tuesday ahead of the quarterly earnings from top investment bank Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) and key housing data due to be released before market opens.

Spain's debt yields rose above 6 percent on Monday as investors worried about its budget deficit, knocking the euro and sending safe-haven German bonds to a record last set at the height of the euro zone crisis.

Futures on major US stock indices point to a higher opening on Monday ahead of economic data including retail sales.

Futures on major US indices point to a higher opening Thursday ahead of key weekly jobless claims and February trade balance reports from the government.

Britain's top share index rose around midday on Friday with banks leading the gainers after being boosted by a positive broker comment.

Wall Street felt tremors Tuesday afternoon as the S&P 500 Index, Nasdaq Composite Index and Dow Jones Industrial Average both dropped precipitously following declines in European equity markets.

Futures on major U.S. indices point to a higher opening on Thursday ahead of key weekly jobless claims from the government.

Futures on major U.S. indices point to a higher opening on Wednesday ahead of economic data including ADP national employment report and non-farm productivity.

Equities worldwide were in sell-off mode Tuesday, as nagging uncertainty about Greece, sobering news about China's economy and traders' realization that U.S. and European central banks might be finished with cash infusions all seemed to weigh on investors.

Copper miner Kazakhmys posted a flat core profit for 2011 as stronger metal prices were offset by an 18 percent rise in production costs, including soaring wages for skilled workers in Kazakhstan, home to its core operations.

Russian precious metals miner Polymetal is eyeing acquisitions in Kazakhstan, Armenia, Ukraine, the Russian Far East and Urals, chief executive Vitaly Nesis told Moscow's RBC Daily in an interview published on Thursday.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to a higher opening Thursday ahead of a wave of economic data including ISM manufacturing index and key weekly jobless claims.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher open for equities on Friday, with futures for the S&P 500, the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq 100 rising 0.1 percent to 0.2 percent.

European stocks were up around midday on Friday, hitting a six- month high as investors cheered data that hinted the euro zone may avoid slipping back into recession, eclipsing a disappointing start to the earnings season.