Reuters - Tokyo stocks held steady by midsession on Wednesday, the dollar's firmness against the yen lifting several exporters such as Honda Motor Co. while brokerages lost ground on concern over growing competition.

AP - Wall Street observers were waiting to see how investors would react Thursday to new government numbers showing that U.S. business productivity rose at an annual rate of 2.9 percent during the first three months of the year.

Reuters - The euro was given another reprieve on Friday after heavy selling this week, while the dollar was seen capped ahead of jobs data that should help to determine the extent of future U.S. interest rate tightening.

AP - Wall Street finished a disheartening week sharply lower Friday after a government report showing the slowest job growth in nearly two years exacerbated concerns about the health of the economy. Steadily climbing oil prices, which topped $55 per barrel, helped push the major indexes to losses for the week.

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - Gains could be hard to come by this week on stock markets as investors weigh the possibility that the end of a series of interest rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve is in sight after last week's string of data suggesting a slowdown in the economy.

Reuters - U.S. stock futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Monday with merger activity grabbing headlines, while oil prices reached a six-week peak above $55 a barrel.

Canadian Press - NEW YORK (AP) - Shares of Archipelago LLC, which is planning a merger with the New York Stock Exchange, rose steadily to an all-time high Monday, while the price of an NYSE seat climbed by $70,000 US.

AP - U.S. stock futures are trading well into positive territory Wednesday after Texas Instruments raised its second-quarter earnings forecast. Investors will focus on April wholesale inventories data, seen growing at the same rate as March.

AP - U.S. stock futures are in negative territory Thursday ahead of Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's testimony and jobless claims data for the latest week, seen moderately lower.

AP - U.S. stock futures are trading higher Friday ahead of the release of U.S. trade deficit data, seen widening again in April.

AP - Stocks rebounded Monday as investors grew more confident ahead of key economic reports due later this week, and following the announcement that embattled Morgan Stanley CEO Phil Purcell would soon retire.

AP - Investors sifting through a mix of retail and inflation data nudged mostly stocks higher Tuesday, though technology shares drifted lower on profit-taking.

AP - Dean Foods Co., one of the nation's largest producers of milk and dairy products, said Tuesday that strong sales mean its second-quarter earnings from continuing operations will be higher than previously forecast, though its bottom-line earnings will be lower because of its previously announced unit spinoff.

AP - Stocks were little changed Thursday on tepid housing numbers and signs that General Motors Corp. might have to fight the United Auto Workers to trim health costs.

AP - Stocks eked out a gain for the fourth straight day Thursday after tepid housing start and jobless claims reports gave investors few clues about the direction of the economy and interest rates.

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - The Toronto stock market's main S&P/TSX composite index rose briefly above the 10,000 level last week for the first time in 4 1/2 years, thanks to rising commodity prices, and observers say they expect more growth to come.

Reuters - The euro tumbled against the dollar on Monday after European Union leaders failed to agree on a long-term budget, deepening a crisis triggered after French and Dutch voters rejected a proposed EU constitution. In early Asian trade, the euro shed about one cent, halving the gain made on Friday when it hit a nine-day high as a record U.S. current account deficit sapped appetite for the dollar.

Reuters - Wall Street was expected to edge ahead on Tuesday as oil prices retreat slightly from record highs.

AP - Stocks finished an uninspiring session mixed Tuesday as investors kept a wary eye on near-record oil prices and debated the prospect of a Social Security reform package without private investment accounts.

Reuters - The yen inched up against the dollar on Thursday on improved confidence in Japan about business conditions, while the euro stayed under pressure on expectations that European interest rates will head lower.

AP - Stocks plunged Thursday, sending the Dow Jones industrials down 166 points as oil prices briefly moved past the psychologically important $60 per barrel level for the first time. Oil's advance accelerated a selloff prompted by poor earnings from FedEx Corp. — which blamed high fuel prices for its disappointing profits.

AP - Thursday's trading on Wall Street ought to come with a warning — not for the faint of heart.

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - North American investors will likely do some navel gazing early this week, reflecting on improvements in stock and bond markets during the first half of the year, along with the impact of skyrocketing crude oil prices, economists say.

AP - U.S. stock futures are trading higher Tuesday following Monday's slight drop on Wall Street, with a small pullback in the price of oil helping out.

Reuters - The dollar touched a new 8-1/2 month high against the yen on Wednesday as expectations of a U.S. interest rate hike made the greenback more attractive to investors.

Reuters - Independent film studio Lions Gate Entertainment said on Wednesday it returned to profit in the fourth quarter compared with a year ago, boosted by the success of recent movies such as 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman' and 'Saw.'