AFP - Europe's main stock markets steadied on Wednesday after a mixed showing elsewhere, as investors tracked high oil prices and the outlook for interest rates.

AFP - Leading shares closed lower, with banks suffering as a statement from Royal Bank of Scotland failed to inspire and HBOS fell below its rights issue price, and with Wall Street weaker in early trade, as oil prices rose.

Reuters - Stocks were solidly lower on Wednesday as the Federal Reserve's Beige Book said economic activity was generally weak in late April and early June 2, adding to concerns about a surge in oil prices and further financial sector losses.

AP - Wall Street fell sharply Wednesday as oil prices rebounded, aggravating concerns that inflation may lead the world's central banks to raise interest rates. The Dow Jones industrial average fell more than 150 points.

Reuters - Wall Street mostly sagged on Tuesday as concern that interest rates will climb hurt technology shares, but the Dow managed to close on the positive side after an upgrade of Coca-Cola Co shares.

AP - Wall Street closed mostly lower Tuesday after a dip in oil prices failed to keep investors from fretting over the economic consequences of steep energy costs.

AFP - European equities sank on Tuesday after sharper falls in Asia on widespread concern that sky-high oil prices will stoke inflation and force central banks to tighten credit, analysts said.

Reuters - U.S. stocks shifted gears and climbed at midday on Tuesday as investors bought Dow industrials like Coca-Cola and other companies with steady earnings, while a drop in oil prices helped ease concerns about inflation.

AP - Wall Street fluctuated Tuesday as a retreat in oil prices failed to keep investors from fretting over the effect of high energy costs on the U.S. economy.

AP - Stocks closed mixed Monday, with Wall Street exhausted from last week's swoon and still nervous about the effect of bank losses and energy costs on the economy.

Reuters - The Dow staged a modest rebound on Monday from Friday's nearly 400-point drop, as concerns about consumer spending and the housing market were eased by better-than-expected sales figures from McDonald's Corp and a surprising gain in pending home sales.

AFP - Chinese share prices fell 5.67 percent in Tuesday morning trade after the central bank told lenders to keep more money in reserve, curbing fund inflows into the stock market, dealers said.

Reuters - China's main stock index tumbled 7.73 percent on Tuesday, its biggest drop since June last year, after the central bank announced a harsher-than-expected tightening of monetary policy to fight inflation.

AFP - Asian stocks fell sharply Tuesday, with Shanghai suffering its worst slump in a year on worries that soaring oil prices will stoke inflation and force central banks to tighten credit.