Stock Markets

Reuters - U.S. securities regulators said on Thursday they settled with a Wall Street trader accused of intentionally spreading false rumors about the planned acquisition of Alliance Data Systems Corp while selling the stock short.

AFP - The leading share index was dragged into negative territory as banking, housebuilders and mining shares were under heavy selling pressure, dealers said Thursday.

AP - China's most-watched stock index surged 9.3 percent Thursday — its biggest percentage gain ever — after the government cut a tax on stock transactions in a move widely seen as an effort to boost slumping markets.