HSBC

Futures on major U.S. indices point to a lower opening Thursday ahead of initial jobless claims and durable orders data.

Asian markets fell Thursday on increasing concerns about the debt crisis looming over the euro zone as national leaders were unable to present specific steps to overcome the situation in Europe.

China's manufacturing activity fell in May compared to April and continued to contract for the seventh straight month, according to the preliminary HSBC Flash Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) released Thursday.

This week's economic calendar is relatively light in the U.S. with the releases of existing home sales, durable goods orders, and the University of Michigan consumer confidence survey. Attention will likely focus on data out of Europe. Euro zone PMIs, Germany IFO survey, and first-quarter gross domestic product data for the U.K. will be released.

Asian stock markets rebounded Monday after suffering heavy losses last week amid ongoing worries over the euro zone crisis.

Asian stock markets slumped Friday as renewed concerns over euro zone crisis and lackluster economic data from US dented investor sentiment.

The world's 29 largest banks will need an extra $566 billion to comply with Basel III capital rules by the end of 2018, which could dampen their ability to increase dividends and buy back shares, according to Fitch Ratings.

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.

Just about everything in China's economy seems to have gone backwards in April and the raft of weaker data raised fears that the world's second largest economy has yet to bottom out.

China reported Thursday a rise in trade surplus to $18.4 billion in April from $5.35 billion in March amid continued weakness in exports caused by economic crises in overseas markets.

Asian stock markets declined Monday after election results from Greece and France fueled concerns about Europe reviving the debt crisis.

The sharp decline in the Indian rupee coupled with strong demand for the dollar forced the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to intervene and announce measures to ease the pressure on of the rupee.

The Chinese manufacturing sector continued to weaken in April, although its rate of deterioration slowed from March, as demand remained low and new business declined, according to HSBC and Martkit's China Manufacturing PMI survey Wednesday.

India's manufacturing activity improved in April compared to previous month, according to the HSBC flash Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) released Wednesday.

China?s manufacturing activity improved in April compared to March but continued to contract for the sixth straight month, according to the final HSBC flash Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) released Wednesday.

Gold touched two-week highs on Tuesday, set for its longest stretch of daily gains in eight months, after a rally in the dollar fizzled out as investor concern escalated over the resilience of the U.S. and euro zone economies.

China?s manufacturing activity improved in April for the fifth straight month as economic conditions continued to strengthen, according to readings from a key gauge released Tuesday.

Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE: ABX), the largest gold miner, said Thursday it sold its 20.4 percent stake in Russian company Highland Gold Mining Ltd. (London: HGM) for $130 million as it seeks to unload non-core business.

HSBC Holdings PLC (NYSE: HBC) plans to cut more than 2,200 jobs in the United Kingdom, where it's most profitable, in a bid to lower costs and boost profit margins, according to published reports.

Palladium prices are bouncing back from a big decline that started in February in what could be a sign of rising investor confidence in the U.S. recovery, thanks to rising auto sales, and concerns over Russian supplies.

Federal Reserve officials are expected to be in wait-and-see mode on extra stimulus at the April Federal Open Market Committee meeting this week, as little has changed since the March meeting to warrant policy changes, economists say.