Reuters - The Nikkei average rose 1.92 percent to end at a four-year high on Tuesday as investors snapped up banks and other stocks on optimism about the economy, in a shortened session after a computer systems failure caused the worst disruption ever on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

AP - Petronas, Malaysia's national oil-and-gas monopoly, said Wednesday its net profit climbed 23 percent on-year in half-year through September as skyrocketing oil prices offset lower output.

AP - Volkswagen AG, Europe's biggest car maker, said Thursday that its third-quarter net profits tripled from last year because of increased sales and cost-cutting that has its German labor force working more hours for less pay.

TechWeb - Don't think optimistic times are over for the No.1 PC company, said ARM Research Inc. Dell Inc. will continue to lead the competition, the research firm suggests.

AP - Wall Street just closed out its second straight week of substantial gains that helped erase the memory of a truly scary October, and investor sentiment remains high. But long-term economic problems remain, and that has traders wondering whether the market has enough going for it to keep fueling the rally.

Reuters - Munich Re (MUVGn.DE) made a net profit of $619 million in the third quarter, up by a third from a year ago, the company reported on Monday and said big payouts on U.S. hurricanes would not deflect from its profit goal for the year.

AP - U.S. stock market futures tilted higher Tuesday, as optimism about the domestic economy following last week's economic data and retail-sales reports continued to buoy sentiment.

AP - Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. on Wednesday reported a 4 percent drop in net profit for the April-September half-year as the popularity of Voice over Internet Protocol and other cheaper services eroded earnings.

Reuters - JDS Uniphase , a maker of optical network gear, on Wednesday posted a quarterly loss that met expectations, while its margins improved and it forecast better-than-anticipated revenue for the current quarter.

AP - Korean Air Co., South Korea's biggest airline, reported Friday that third-quarter net profit jumped 59 percent from the same period last year as an increase in fuel costs was absorbed by fuel-surcharges and higher demand for passenger flights.

AP - Earnings reports from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and the latest inflation data are due in the week ahead, and could potentially drive the market toward its long-awaited 'Santa Claus' rally.

AP - U.S. stock futures largely held their ground Monday after a $21-billion acquisition of Georgia-Pacific and Knight-Ridder Inc. put itself up for sale, with Wal-Mart Stores meeting earnings expectations for the third quarter.

AP - Inflation will be the focus of U.S. stock trading Tuesday, ahead of data expected to show a decline in core wholesale prices and testimony from the nominee to head up the Federal Reserve.

AP - Tyco International Ltd., a conglomerate which makes security, health care and other products, said Wednesday its fiscal fourth-quarter net income doubled, as results benefited from a low tax rate.

AP - U.S. stock market futures were higher Thursday, with gains in overseas markets helping to buoy sentiment, though oil major ConocoPhilips was hit by a downgrade.

Reuters - The dollar pushed back toward two-year highs against the euro and the yen on Friday, shaking off a bout of profit-taking as investors see the U.S. currency extending its rally driven by a widening interest rate advantage.

Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - Stocks could have a tough time finding direction this week as U.S. markets prepare to close Thursday for Thanksgiving, to be followed by a quiet Friday as many traders depart the trading floor for a four-day weekend.

Reuters - The dollar edged toward a two-year high against the yen on Monday, and it steadied versus the euro after the European Central Bank chief signaled late last week that interest rates were set to climb.

Reuters - The euro eased against the dollar on Tuesday after a turbulent session on Monday when the European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet signaled interest rates would rise but that there would not be an extended tightening cycle.

Reuters - The dollar extended its decline in Asian trading on Wednesday after minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve's November 1 meeting indicated that the Fed could be close to ending its policy-tightening cycle.

Reuters - The euro dipped against the dollar on Wednesday after a weaker than expected survey of German business sentiment caused jitters about the course of euro zone interest rates.

Reuters - The dollar rose to within striking distance of a two-year high against the yen on Friday as investors bet the U.S. currency would keep climbing thanks to its wide interest-rate advantage over the euro and the yen.

AP - During each of the past four years, Wall Street has celebrated the year's end with a big rally that bolstered returns and burnished the reputations of investors and money managers who might otherwise found themselves with poor showings.

AP - U.S. stock market futures notched higher Monday, with retailing a focus after preliminary figures suggested a solid start to the holiday shopping season, with some mergers-and-acquisitions activity also lending support.

Reuters - PepsiCo Inc. , the world's third-largest food and beverage company, on Tuesday said it still expects 2005 core earnings per share in line with analysts' average estimates, and it will take a restructuring charge to reduce costs in the fourth quarter.

AP - U.S. stocks are trading higher Wednesday despite the second broker downgrade of Internet search engine Yahoo Inc. this week.