DOW JONES

Gold extended its losses Wednesday after Italian lawmakers approved a major austerity program, the latest in a string of signs that Europe's debt crises may be finally getting the attention they deserve.

Gold prices fell Wednesday as stock markets in Europe posted gains from European Commission plans to push euro zone bonds and China's premier expressed support for struggling European countries.

U.S. investors remained concerned that Europe's leaders are not getting ahead of the Greek crisis, which could result in a full-fledged Europe bank crisis, even as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, while not committing more German funds to possible intervention, again dismissed talk of a Greek default.

Gold rose Tuesday as the U.S. dollar weakened against the euro and other key currencies while bargain hunters moved in following two session in which the yellow lost value.

European stocks were down 2 percent in late trade on Monday, with French banking shares hit by mounting fears over their exposure to debt-stricken countries, but the lack of a sell-off at the open on Wall Street helped the market trim losses.

Stock futures pointed to sharp falls for equities on Monday after tumbling in the previous session following the resignation of a top official at the European Central Bank, with futures for the S&P 500, the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq 100 down 1.6 to 1.9 percent.

U.S. stocks tumbled on Friday after the top German official at the European Central Bank resigned in protest of the bank's bond-buying program, which has been a major tool in fighting the region's debt crisis.

Investors are likely skeptical about the efficacy of Obama’s jobs program and whether or not such a massive scheme would pass Congress.

Nvidia's stock has soared after the company's Chief Executive Jen-Hsun Huang outlines a strong fiscal outlook for next year.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Wednesday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 1 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.79 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.97 percent at 0900 GMT (5 a.m. ET).

In a flight to safety, the 10-Year Treasury yield has fallen below 2.00 percent, while gold futures are slightly higher.

Defying expectations, the U.S. service sector expanded at a slightly faster pace in August -- but remains too weak to help a sluggish economy that's not creating enough jobs.

International Paper, the world's largest producer of paper and pulp, has agreed to buy shipping-box company Temple-Inland for $3.7 billion.

Wall Street stock futures pointed to a lower open for equities on Tuesday on renewed fears the euro zone's sovereign debt crisis is worsening, with shares seen tracking a slump in European stocks on Monday when the U.S. market was closed.

To say it's been a discomforting time for U.S. stock investors lately would be an understatement. Europe debt concerns, a tepid U.S. economic recovery that’s not creating enough jobs, and now Hurricane Irene’s damage has jolted institutional investors. Given the above, where’s the Dow headed from here?

Stocks of large financial companies, such as Bank of American and Goldman Sachs, have taken a pounding Friday over a likely lawsuit concerning mortgage sales.

In the opening minutes of trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500 index and the Nasdaq are all down about 1.80 percent.

Stocks gained on Thursday after data showed factory activity cooled in August but was still expanding, easing investors' fears the economy could be headed for another recession.

Stock index futures pointed to a weaker open on Wall Street on Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq 100 down 0.1 to 0.4 percent.

Gold and silver prices closed modestly higher on the futures markets Wednesday as strong demand from foreign buyers offset expectations that the Federal Reserve will signal fresh, potentially inflationary, intervention in the market next month.

Global demand for gold lifted the price of the yellow metal Wednesday, countering a growing appetite for risk among U.S. investors, many of whom expect the Federal Reserve to come to the aid of the U.S. economy, perhaps as early as September.