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Crude oil futures hovered above $84 a barrel Wednesday amid expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve may announce additional stimulus measures to spur economic growth.

Asian markets rose Wednesday amid speculation that the U.S. Fed will announce monetary easing measures to rejuvenate the economy.

Here's what a nursing home in Mobile, Ala., has in common with the regal Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan: They're both facing micro-unions, groups of employees who organize apart from the rest of a company's workforce.

After the positive effects of the Greek election fade, markets will shift focus toward the Federal Reserve announcement scheduled for Wednesday.

Futures on the major U.S. indices point to a mixed opening Monday as concerns about the euro zone debt crisis undermined the initial optimism following the Greek elections in which pro-bailout parties won the majority.

As the U.S. Senate grapples with how to allocate about $100 billion a year for the next decade on food policy, one subsection of the farm bill is under attack, namely, the $200 million U.S. taxpayers spend every year to subsidize the marketing of well-established brands found in virtually every American pantry.

Futures on the major U.S. indices point to a flat opening Thursday ahead of the Department of Labor's report on weekly jobless claims and the Consumer Price Index.

Crude oil futures are slightly lower Thursday as investors await the outcome of the OPEC ministerial meeting in Vienna.

Asian markets fell Thursday as weak retail sales data by the U.S. Commerce Department and Spanish debt downgrade by Moody's weighed down on investor sentiment.

Stock markets in China and Hong Kong declined Thursday as weaker-than-expected data on monthly U.S. retail sales and renewed concerns about the debt-laden euro zone weighed on the sentiment.

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell Thursday amid report of cut in Spain's credit rating and disappointing data from the U.S.

Futures on major U.S. indices point to a slightly lower opening Wednesday ahead of the retail sales report and producer price index.

China's May data dump over the weekend and on Monday painted a mixed picture of the economic health of the world's second-largest economy.

Crude oil futures rallied Monday as market participants welcomed Europe's plan to provide financial assistance to Spain to properly restructure its troubled banks.

Stock markets in China and Hong Kong gained Monday as sentiment was buoyed on news that the euro zone will provide financial assistance to help Spain's troubled banks.

Many analysts anticipated China's balance-of-trade figures for May would be OK, but the customs numbers reported Sunday were better than that expectation: Year on year, the country's exports rose 15.3 percent, and its imports rose 12.1 percent.

As a weak economic recovery and cheaper gasoline alter the travel plans of Americans from international trips to domestic jaunts, the Gulf Coast could be a big winner.

Asian stock markets reported their first weekly gains in six weeks amid hopes that major central banks, including the U.S. Federal Reserve, might act to tackle deteriorating global economic conditions.

As a weakening economic recovery and cheap gas lead Americans to curtail international vacations, domestic tourism is poised for a solid summer.

Several top retailers reported stronger-than-expected sales in May Thursday, Reuters is reporting, providing a moderate surprise to Wall Street retail analysts, who had warned May might prove a disappointing month in terms of revenue for many stores.

Futures on major U.S. indices point to a higher opening Thursday, ahead of the ADP National Employment Report and the Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) report on Initial Jobless Claims.