AP - Asian stock markets dropped sharply Monday, led by exporters like Canon and LG Electronics, amid worries over slowing global demand and crude prices as Hurricane Gustav bore down on Gulf Coast oil operations.

AFP - Europe's main stock markets dropped on Monday after Tokyo closed sharply lower and oil prices rose, while banking shares were in focus after Commerzbank snapped up German peer Dresdner.

AFP - London shares closed lower on Monday, weighed down by weakening commodity prices.

AFP - Wall Street returns from vacation season to enter what is historically the most perilous period of the year amid conflicting signals about the US economic outlook.

Reuters - U.S. stocks tumbled on Friday, led lower by tech shares after computer maker Dell warned that companies worldwide are cutting back on technology spending.

AP - Wall Street tumbled Friday after the government said personal incomes fell last month by the largest amount in nearly three years while consumer spending slowed. The Dow Jones industrial average fell more than 170 points, while a disappointing profit report from computer maker Dell Inc. weighed on the technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index.

AFP - Europe's main stock markets advanced on Friday after share prices had risen sharply in Tokyo on the back of a strong performance by Wall Street overnight.

AFP - London shares finished higher on Friday, with oil stocks making the biggest gains.

Reuters - Stocks tumbled on Friday after a warning by computer maker Dell that companies worldwide are cutting back on technology spending spooked the tech sector.

AP - Stocks tumbled Friday after the government said personal incomes fell last month by the largest amount in nearly three years while consumer spending slowed. The Dow Jones industrial average fell more than 100 points, while a disappointing profit report from computer maker Dell Inc. weighed on the technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index.

Reuters - U.S. stocks rose sharply on Thursday as the government reported the economy grew at a surprisingly robust clip in the second quarter and oil prices eased, driving gains in major industrial and financial companies.

AP - Wall Street barreled higher Thursday after a better-than-expected reading on the gross domestic product and a drop in jobless claims gave investors some reassurance that the economy is holding up. The Dow Jones industrial average jumped more than 200 points.