AP - A look at two standout mutual funds from 2008:

AFP - European and Asian stock markets rose sharply on Friday after a horrendous 2008 for equities as the global economic crisis took hold.

Reuters - Wall Street's bid to rally from its worst year since the 1930s will be tested next week by the year's first wave of likely dismal corporate news and possible roadblocks to President-elect Barack Obama's stimulus plan.

Reuters - Christopher Cox will most likely be remembered as the regulator who was unable to do enough to protect investors during the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

Reuters - (Reuters) -- Stock futures pointed to a slightly lower open on Wall Street on Monday, as gloomy comments by U.S. and European policymakers overshadowed hopes that U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's plan for massive tax cuts will help revive economic growth.

AP - Japanese stocks rose Tuesday as investors turned upbeat on President-elect Barack Obama's proposed economic stimulus package, and exporters got a boost from a weaker yen.

AP - Asian stocks extended their New Year's rally Wednesday, with Japan's index up nearly 2 percent, on hopes that stimulus measures from a new U.S. administration would help speed the world's economic recovery.

AP - Trading on India's stock markets was closed Thursday to mark the Muslim month of Muharram.

AP - Asian stocks were narrowly mixed Friday amid more corporate gloom and worries that a key U.S. jobs report could show recession in the world's largest economy is deepening.

AFP - Saudi stocks fell three percent on Saturday as the slowing economy in the oil superpower and global economic stress continued to dampen investor sentiment.

Reuters - President-elect Barack Obama's choice to lead the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is likely to be roughed up at her confirmation hearing in connection with the Bernard Madoff scandal, but ultimately she is expected to be confirmed.

AP - Oil prices fell below $40 a barrel Monday in Asia as investors looked to key U.S. corporate results this week for indications of the health of the world's largest economy and demand for crude.

AP - Most Asian markets retreated Tuesday, led by a steep fall in Japan, as commodities stocks followed oil prices lower and a bleak outlook for earnings hit iconic exporters such as Sony Corp.

AP - Asian markets rose modestly Wednesday, as exporters like Sony Corp. recovered from the previous day's sell-off after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said a big stimulus package could help revive the U.S. economy.

AP - Australian stocks slid more than 4 percent Thursday as grim U.S. holiday sales and concerns over the banking industry sent stocks across the Asia Pacific region plunging.

AP - Asian stocks rebounded Friday from the previous day's rout, with Tokyo's index gaining nearly 3 percent, as the U.S. bailed out Bank of America again and a weaker yen lifted exporters like Toyota Motor Corp.

AP - As hundreds of fourth-quarter earnings reports stream in this week, Wall Street's reaction will turn on companies' answers to one question: When will the recession end?

AP - Oil prices fell to near $36 a barrel Monday in Asia as investors eyed a slew of U.S. corporate earnings this week for signs of weakening consumer demand amid the worst recession in decades.

AP - Asian stocks tumbled Tuesday, with Japan's benchmark losing more than 2 percent, as Royal Bank of Scotland's massive loss renewed jitters about the health of global banks amid a protracted economic slump.

AP - Ominous clouds over the global banking sector sent Japanese stocks tumbling again Wednesday.

AP - Asian stock markets rose Thursday, with Tokyo's index up nearly 2 percent, as gains on Wall Street offset alarming new signs the region's economies were slowing faster than expected amid plummeting demand for their goods. European shares also opened higher.

Reuters - Asian stocks fell to a 1-1/2-month low on Friday, weighed by poor corporate results in the technology sector, while the U.S. dollar drifted higher as investors sought refuge from the deteriorating global economy.

Reuters - Kingdom Holding Co (4280.SE), owned by Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, said on Saturday that it had revised its fourth-quarter earnings to show a small overall profit after initially reporting a net loss close to $8.3 billion.

AP - As Wall Street waits for Congress to act on President Barack Obama's stimulus plan, investors will look to a swath of earnings reports and comments from the Federal Reserve this week for clues on when the economy might begin to improve.

AP - Stocks dipped Monday in Japan, the only major Asian market open Monday amid a slew of regional holidays, as investors braced for key earning results this week from Sony, Honda and other major names.

AFP - Japan's Nikkei stock index soared five percent Tuesday after the government said it was planning to provide public funds to companies to help them through the economic crisis.

AP - Most Asian stock markets rose Wednesday as investors shrugged off more dire economic data to focus on signs that companies are still scraping up profits despite the worst recession in decades.

AP - Asian markets advanced Thursday, with Hong Kong jumping more than 5 percent in a catch-up rally, as the U.S. House of Representatives approved a $819 billion stimulus bill that investors hope will help lift the American economy out of its worst crisis in decades.

AP - Asian stock markets faltered Friday, dragged down by a sell-off in Tokyo as new data underlined the severity of Japan's economic slump and quarterly reports from leading companies like Sony and Toshiba showed profits tumbling.