AP - Wall Street surged Thursday as investors looked past a sharp rebound in oil prices and focused on comforting news about the economy — better-than-expected retail sales and a drop in the number of laid-off workers seeking unemployment benefits.

Reuters - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating whether American International Group Inc overstated the value of contracts linked to subprime mortgages, the Wall Street Journal said on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

AP - Japanese stocks rose to a five-month high Friday as investors snatched up exporter shares on a weaker yen and oil issues on rising crude prices.

AP - Wall Street rose sharply Thursday after investors got some comforting news about the economy — some better-than-expected retail sales in May and a drop in the number of laid-off workers seeking unemployment benefits. The Dow Jones industrials rose more than 130 points.

Reuters - Stocks pulled back from session highs on Thursday after Standard & Poor's cut the credit ratings of bond insurers MBIA Inc and Ambac Financial , keeping worries alive about credit losses.

AFP - Oil prices fell Wednesday, extending recent heavy losses on the back of a stronger dollar and as investors reacted to rising motor fuel inventories in the United States.

Reuters - Blue-chip stocks dipped on Wednesday to close at their lowest since mid-April after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke stoked inflation worries and concerns about more credit losses dogged financial shares.

AP - Wall Street ended a wobbly session with a mixed performance Wednesday as concerns about the financial sector eroded enthusiasm over a decline in oil prices and a report that signaled modest growth in the service economy.

AFP - European equities dived Wednesday, mirroring a poor overnight US showing, as energy and mining firms were hit by falling oil and metals prices and banks continued to suffer from credit worries.

AP - Stocks rebounded Wednesday as investors digested a report that said the service economy managed growth last month and as oil prices extended their retreat from recent highs.

Reuters - The Dow turned lower on Wednesday, on worry about the prospect of more credit losses after Moody's Investors Service said it will likely cut the credit ratings of the bond insurance arms of MBIA Inc and Ambac Financial Group .

Reuters - Stocks fell for a second day on Tuesday after a report that Lehman Brothers may have to raise more capital compounded recent worries the financial sector faces another round of big losses from the credit crisis.

AP - Wall Street fell sharply for a second straight day Tuesday as investors grew more worried that the financial sector is still suffering badly from the credit crisis. The Dow Jones industrials dropped more than 100 points, bringing their two-day loss to 235.