Stock Markets - Page 9

AP - Wall Street closed out a bumpy week with a moderate gain Friday as investors, heartened by new inflation data, bought optimistically ahead of next week's rush of earnings releases. The Dow Jones industrials had their 11th advance in 12 sessions, and all the major indexes closed out the week higher.

FT.com - European and UK stock markets closed at their highest levels for six years on Friday as renewed optimism about global growth helped them cement a recovery from heavy losses at the end of February. More Info...  

Reuters - U.S. stocks advanced on Friday, boosted by stronger profit outlooks from drug maker Merck & Co. and fast-food restaurant chain McDonald's Corp. .

FT.com - The FTSE 100 hit a six-year high on Friday, underlining the resilience of global equities markets. More Info...  

FT.com - London equities enjoyed a strong performance on Friday with the FTSE closing at its highest level since November 2000, supported by gains in the oil sector as crude prices moved higher. More Info...  

FT.com - European equities were firmer on Friday as energy stocks led the way after a spike in oil prices, while merger activity continued to provide much of the focus. More Info...  

FT.com - London equities moved higher in midday trade on Friday, supported by oil majors after an overnight spike in crude prices on concern of gasoline supply shortages in the US. More Info...  

AFP - Europe's main stock markets rose on Friday, with the energy sector lifted by higher crude oil prices.

FT.com - London equities moved higher in opening trade on Friday, supported by oil majors after an overnight spike in crude prices on concern of gasoline supply shortages in the US. More Info...  

Reuters - Nasdaq Stock Market has held preliminary and intermittent talks with Nordic bourse operator OMX over the past year, but a deal is not imminent, the Wall Street Journal reported on its Web site on Thursday.

Stock Markets News FT.com - Bid and merger rumours continued to swirl through European markets Thursday, helping to offset fresh uncertainty about the prospects for US interest rates. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 index slipped 0.3 per cent to 1,542.39. More Info...  

FT.com - Bid and merger rumours continued to swirl through European markets Thursday, helping to offset fresh uncertainty about the prospects for US interest rates. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 index slipped 0.3 per cent to 1,542.39. More Info...  

Reuters - U.S. stocks rose on Thursday as MedImmune Inc. put itself up for sale, lifting the biotech sector, and strong retail sales data relieved fears about consumer spending.

AP - Stocks resumed their advance Thursday following a one-day hiatus as investors looked past a somewhat cloudy picture for retail sales and higher oil prices. The Dow Jones industrial average has shown gains in nine of the last 10 sessions.

AP - Shares in Swedish stock exchange operator OMX AB soared Thursday after it was reported to be the subject of a takeover bid by the Nasdaq Stock Market, though both bourses denied an offer was made. More Info...  

AFP - Europe's main stock markets headed lower on Thursday in cautious trade ahead of a decision on eurozone interest rates, dealers said.

FT.com - London equities continued to fall in midday trade on Thursday, as hopes for further dealmaking activity cooled, leading to losses for companies loosely linked with potential bids. More Info...  

Reuters - Nordic bourse operator and technology firm OMX said on Thursday it was in cooperation talks with several exchanges although it had not received any bids, and its shares rose more than 13 percent.

FT.com - London equities fell in opening trade on Thursday, tracking Wall Street lower on renewed fears of inflationary pressure and the outlook for interest rates in the world's biggest economy. More Info...  

FT.com - Japanese stocks fell Thursday on fears about the direction of the US economy and of a rise in oil prices. More Info...