Canadian Press - TORONTO (CP) - Stock markets could be in for a calm spell in the next month following the most recent selloff of overbought resource stocks in Toronto and the growing conviction that a U.S. economic slowdown will end with a soft landing.

Reuters - The Nikkei average rose 0.79 percent on Monday to end at its highest close in nearly a month, as Canon Inc. (7751.T) and others with strong profit prospects rose after a Bank of Japan survey showed improved Japanese business sentiment.

Reuters - U.S. stock futures slipped on Tuesday, indicating an opening fall on Wall Street, with energy shares set to be hit but the broader market supported by crude's continued fall.

Reuters - U.S. stock futures were flat on Wednesday with the Dow poised to extend its record peak ahead of a speech by Federal Reserve President Ben Bernanke.

Reuters - NYSE Group Inc. and Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. are in discussions to buy a strategic stake in India's Bombay Stock Exchange Ltd., the Economic Times reported on Thursday quoting unnamed sources.

AP - U.S. stock futures were down modestly on Friday ahead of key monthly employment data, with below-forecast results from chipmaker Micron Technology also adding some pressure.

AFP - The chief executive of Australian telecoms giant Telstra talked up the company's prospects ahead of the launch Monday of the prospectus for a multi-billion-dollar share sale.

Reuters - Wall Street headed for a lower start on Monday as North Korea's underground nuclear test and continued concern about the depth of a U.S. economic slowdown will likely prompt more investors to lock in equity gains.

AP - U.S. stock market futures were virtually unmoved Tuesday in the last trading session before third-quarter earnings season officially kicks off with results from Alcoa, the Dow industrials component.

AP - Alcoa Inc. posted sharply higher earnings Tuesday on strong demand from aircraft, truck and train producers, overcoming weak prices and a seasonal downturn. But the aluminum maker's 86 percent profit rise disappointed analysts.

AP - PepsiCo Inc., the snack food maker and No. 2 soft drink company, said Thursday its third-quarter profit jumped 71 percent, reflecting a more than 9 percent increase in sales and comparison with results that were depressed by a tax charge a year ago.

AP - Japanese high technology-oriented stock exchange Jasdaq said Friday it is in talks with its U.S. counterpart, Nasdaq, about a possible alliance that might allow mutual listing of companies on each other's markets.

AFP - Europe's leading crossborder exchange Euronext and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) reaffirmed their willingness to start talks at once with the Frankfurt and Milan exchanges to create a consolidated European stock market.

AP - U.S. stock market futures edged lower on Monday after last week's rally, as investors took some money off the table with the third-quarter earnings season about to kick into another gear.

Reuters - National City Corp. , the No. 8 U.S. bank, on Tuesday said third-quarter profit rose 15 percent, helped by higher fees and improved results from mortgages.

Reuters - Mellon Financial Corp. on Wednesday reported higher quarterly profits as improved stock market conditions boosted fees earned by the financial service firm's money management division.

Reuters - Insurer UnitedHealth Group Inc. , whose chief executive is leaving amid a stock option scandal, on Thursday posted higher quarterly profit, helped by higher revenue from premiums.

Reuters - Schlumberger Ltd. , the world's largest oilfield services company, on Friday said quarterly earnings nearly doubled on strong drilling demand and sharp growth in its seismic business, which measures oil and gas deposits.

Reuters - Stocks should extend their rally next week, taking the Dow to fresh records, as long as corporate earnings keep topping expectations and beat back concerns that equities have gotten a tad pricey recently.

Reuters - Halliburton Co , the world's No. 2 oilfield services group, on Sunday posted higher quarterly earnings, bolstered by heavy spending by energy producers on oil and gas output.

FT.com - The Japanese stock market was in a jittery mood on Monday morning ahead of this week's slew of earnings results, initially falling before ending the morning slightly higher.

Reuters - Truck maker Volvo (VOLVb.ST) posted quarterly pretax profit above expectations on Tuesday, said key markets would be at the top end of its forecast in 2006, but saw a sharp North American downturn in 2007.

AP - Honda Motor Co. said Wednesday that second-quarter profit slipped 4.3 percent, but sales were strong especially in North America and Asia, where demand for fuel-efficient Japanese cars has been growing.

AP - After months of restructurings, job cuts, management changes and other moves to lift their fortunes, domestic automakers still are posting losses as market share slips further toward their Asian rivals.

Reuters - The Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) said on Friday it is in talks with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on an operational tie-up, as the U.S. bourse focuses on increasing its Asian presence amid intensifying competition among stock exchanges.

AP - Hyundai Motor Co. announced Monday that its third-quarter net profit fell 47 percent from a year earlier, sliced by a stronger won and production losses from a strike.

AP - Japan's troubled Mitsubishi Motors on Monday reported a narrower net loss of 16.1 billion yen ($137 million) for fiscal first-half compared to the same period last year, helped by favorable foreign exchange rates and reduced costs.

AP - Hitachi Ltd. said Tuesday its group net loss widened in the six months through September, hurt by mushrooming costs of repairing nuclear power plant turbines and poor home appliance sales.