AFP - An appeals court Tuesday gave former New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) chief Richard Grasso a total victory by dismissing all claims seeking reimbursement of a contested 100-million-dollar severance payout.

Reuters - Former New York Stock Exchange chief Richard Grasso won a knockout victory on Tuesday in his four-year fight to keep every last penny of his $187.5 million pay package, as an appeals court threw out the state's remaining claims against him.

Reuters - The Nikkei average fell 1.3 percent on Wednesday to hit its longest losing streak in more than 40 years, as worries about the global economy hit exporters such as Canon Inc (7751.T).

AFP - Europe's main markets slumped on Tuesday, the start of the third quarter, as oil prices jumped back toward record highs, fuelling worries about rising inflation.

Reuters - The second half of 2008 got off to a brutal start for equity investors on Tuesday as worries about the banking sector battered European stocks while inflation fears increased with oil over $142 a barrel.

AFP - Blue chips remained at lower levels midafternoon, dragged down by the banking sector amid fears of profit warnings, with Wall Street lower on the back of ongoing concerns over rising oil prices.

Reuters - Former New York Stock Exchange chief Richard Grasso won another big victory on Tuesday in his efforts to keep his $187.5 million pay package, with a court throwing out state officials' remaining claims against him.

AP - Wall Street began the third quarter Tuesday with a moderate decline as rising oil prices and weak economic data made it clear the country can expect no respite anytime soon from its morass of financial problems.

Reuters - Stocks cut losses on Tuesday, with both the S&P and the Nasdaq (.IXIC) turned positive after General Motors Corp reported stronger-than-expected June sales, helping temper worries about the impact of high fuel prices on corporate earnings.

Reuters - The Dow and S&P 500 were little changed on Monday on the final trading day of the second quarter as record oil boosted energy shares, offsetting weak financial stocks amid nagging concerns of further credit losses.

AP - Wall Street ended a grueling first half quietly Monday, closing mixed as investors again based their trades on what has become the dominant force in the market: the price of oil. The major indexes closed out the first six months of 2008 with double digit declines, and are perilously close to the levels of a bear market.

AFP - Much has changed at the Frankfurt stock exchange in 20 years but as its Dax index celebrates the milestone it remains the barometer for German economic well-being.