AFP - Europe's main stock markets extended gains on Friday after an overnight rally on Wall Street which also helped to lift Japanese share prices, dealers said.

AFP - Leading shares closed lower Friday as commodity stocks dragged down the FTSE despite better-than-expected US data.

Reuters - Stocks mostly edged higher on Friday, as a drop in the price of oil added to hopes of a revival in consumer spending, boosting the outlook for economic and profit growth.

AP - Stock prices fluctuated Friday as Wall Street played out a now familiar scenario: Upbeat sentiment about falling oil prices flagged amid onging concerns about weak credit markets and the economy.

Reuters - Stocks rose in thin trade on Thursday as another decline in the price of oil buoyed hopes that consumer spending will recover and financial shares bounced back from a sharp two-day sell-off.

AP - Wall Street rebounded Thursday, rising sharply as oil prices fell and investors took advantage of bargains in financial stocks after two straight days of heavy declines.

Reuters - Stock futures point to a higher opening on Wall Street on Thursday, reversing some of the previous session's losses while investors await for key inflation data, as well as earnings from Wal-Mart Stores , the world's biggest retailer.

AFP - Europe's main stock markets rose on Thursday, despite news of shrinking European economic growth in the second quarter, as heavyweight miners were boosted by higher commodity prices, traders said.

AFP - London shares rose on Thursday as heavyweight miners were boosted by higher commodity prices.

AP - Wall Street rebounded Thursday as oil prices fell and investors took advantage of bargains in financial stocks after two straight days of heavy declines. The Dow Jones industrials rose more than 100 points.

Reuters - Stocks rose in thin trading on Thursday as another decline in the price of oil buoyed hopes that consumer spending will recover and financial shares bounced back from a sharp two-day sell-off.

Reuters - Stocks fell on Wednesday, as persistent concerns about the credit crisis hurt bank shares while a rebound in oil prices and weak outlooks at some retailers raised anxieties about consumer spending.

AP - Wall Street ended an erratic session Wednesday with a lopsided loss as blue chips fell on investors' concerns over the health of financial companies and high-tech stocks fared better on news from the semiconductor sector. The Dow Jones industrials fell more than 100 points, but the other major indexes finished with single-digit losses.