FTSE

US stocks advanced in early trade on Friday as upbeat quarterly results from General Electric and Google and strong German IFO business sentiment data boosted investor sentiment.

Futures on major U.S. indices point to a higher opening on Friday with futures on the S&P 500 up 0.15 percent, futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 0.11 percent and Nasdaq100 futures up 0.15 percent.

Futures on major U.S. indices pared earlier losses and point to modestly lower opening on Thursday after the Department of Labor reported that weekly jobless claims fell sharply last week.

Futures on major U.S. indices point to a lower opening on Thursday ahead of economic data, including weekly jobless claims and existing home sales.

US stocks traded mixed in early trade on Wednesday, following mixed earnings from financial heavyweights Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo and a government report showed that U.S. housing starts fell more than expected in December.

Futures on major U.S. indices point to a lower opening on Wednesday after Goldman Sachs reported a decline in quarterly profit and a government report showed that U.S. housing starts fell more than expected in December.

US stocks traded mixed in early trade on Tuesday following weaker-than-expected earnings from Citigroup, while declines in Apple shares dragged technology-heavy Nasdaq lower.

British credit information group Experian Plc said total revenue rose 12 percent in the third quarter, with organic revenue up 8 percent, as it returned to positive growth across all regions and principal activities.

CMS Cameron McKenna said it has hired Simmons & Simmons US securities partner Daniel Winterfeldt to head its newly launched international capital markets (ICM) group.

US futures are set to open lower on Friday after a disappointing jobless claims data, which could weigh on sentiment.

UK-based oil and gas explorer Premier Oil sees lower average production in 2010 as it saw increased maintenance activity in the North Sea, particularly during the second half of the year.

Stock rallied as banks/financials stocks pushed higher following an upgrade of the sector by Wells Fargo and a successful bond offering in Portugal.

The S&P 500 Index gained 3.69 points, or 0.29 percent, to trade at 1,278.17 at 9.30 a.m. EDT. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 32.93 points, or 0.28 percent, to trade at 11,704.81. The Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 11.50 points, or 0.42 percent, to 2,728.49.

British housebuilder Barratt Developments Plc said it expects operating margin for the first half to be around 5 percent, significantly up from 2.4 percent in the year-ago period. The company said its average selling price rose by about 6 percent.

US stocks advanced in early trade on Tuesday as Alcoa kicked off the earnings season by beating forecasts, while Japan’s pledge to buy eurozone bonds eased concerns about eurozones debt.

Stocks finished mixed, following a sell-off in Europe, on worries over Portugal possibly needing a financial bailout, ahead of the kick-off of the fourth-quarter earnings season.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to lower opening on Monday with futures on the S&P 500 down 0.58 percent, futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.42 percent and Nasdaq100 futures down 0.40 percent.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to a lower opening on Friday as investors await key U.S. monthly non-farm payrolls and unemployment data from the government.

U.S. stocks opened flat in early trade on Thursday, following weaker-than-expected weekly jobless claims and December retail sales data.

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

U.S. stocks declined in early trade on Wednesday despite upbeat private sector employment report from ADP as commodities and natural resources stocks were hurt by strong dollar.