HSBC

Asian stock markets rallied Friday as comments from European Central Bank (ECB) president raised hopes for further central bank action in Europe to alleviate the sovereign debt crisis.

The U.S. shale gas boom will not lead to a near-term surge in U.S. gross domestic product growth or to a substantial decline in the unemployment rate, according to HSBC Chief U.S. Economist Kevin Logan.

The more data market-watchers have seen on the U.S. economy, the less they like what they've seen. Specifically, predictions on what the government might report as the rate of GDP growth in the second-quarter of 2012 have plummeted in the past few weeks, as economists adjust their models to one disappointing data release after another.

The EU is looking into the possibility of making Libor and Euribor rate-rigging -- the deliberate manipulation of interest rates that set the benchmark for over $500 trillion in financial contracts - a criminal offense.

U.S. stock index futures point to a flat opening Tuesday as investor sentiment continue to be affected by the mounting borrowing costs faced by Spain and worsening economic condition of Greece.

Asian stock markets advanced slightly Tuesday after a report showed that Chinese factory activity in July grew at its fastest pace since February.

Crude oil futures advanced Tuesday as fears over a sharp growth slowdown in the world’s second largest economy slightly eased after a report showed that Chinese factory activity in July grew at its fastest pace in five months.

China's manufacturing activity rose in July compared to that in June, according to the preliminary HSBC Flash Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) released Tuesday.

Most Asian markets fell Tuesday as investor sentiment was dragged down by the continuing concerns over the debt burden lingering over the euro zone.

In a fairly light week of data, Friday's first take on the U.S. second-quarter gross domestic product will be the main event. Economists expect a feeble reading of 1.4 percent. This will be the final major data point to influence participants at the July 31 - Aug.1 meeting of the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee.

According to a number of un-named sources that are familiar with a sweeping investigation into the rigging scandal, federal prosecutors in Washington have recently contacted lawyers representing some of the suspects to notify them that criminal charges and arrests could be imminent.

Asian stock markets slumped Monday as renewed concerns over the euro zone debt crisis and worries about the Chinese economic slowdown dented investor sentiment.

Asian markets fell Monday following the revival of the investor concerns about the deepening debt burden faced by the euro zone and worsening global economic growth.

Most European markets fell Friday amid the revival of investor concerns about the global economy affected by the debt crisis in the euro zone.

India's economy will grow at its slowest pace in a decade this fiscal year, with tight monetary policy, political gridlock and a weakening global economy prompting analysts to slash their forecasts, a Reuters poll showed on Thursday.

The Indian economy would see in this fiscal year its weakest growth rate in the past 10 years as the policy gridlocks and global economic uncertainties weigh heavily on the country.

Most European markets rose Thursday as better than expected corporate earnings in the U.S. revived hopes among investors that business conditions are recovering.

Asian markets fell Wednesday as investors were disappointed to note that the U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke did not offer any hint of monetary easing measures to rejuvenate the faltering economic growth.

The head of HSBC Holdings Plc's anti-money laundering programs used his opportunity to testify at a Senate hearing called to investigate risky practices at his employer, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

The Senate probe, which also lays heavy criticism on HSBC's prime U.S. regulator, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), goes so far as to suggest that lawmakers should consider revoking the bank's charter to operate in the U.S.

Asian stock markets advanced Tuesday as investor await Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's semi-annual testimony before Congress for hints about further easing.