AFP - European stocks rallied Thursday on bargain-hunting, with the focus on the financial sector as traders digested a record loss at Royal Bank of Scotland which was less than feared.

AP - European markets rose Thursday as investors welcomed a British program to allow struggling banks to access government insurance against future losses on toxic assets.

AFP - London stocks finished strongly up Thursday as investors took advantage of restructuring in the the financial sector.

Reuters - The Dow industrials and the S&P 500 rose on Thursday as news the Obama administration could request more money to shore up ailing banks sent financial shares higher, offsetting declines in healthcare companies.

AP - Financial stocks gained on Thursday as investors welcomed plans from Washington for additional bailout measures that could provide up to $750 billion in support to the struggling banking system.

Reuters - Stocks fell on Wednesday after President Barack Obama warned of stricter oversight for Wall Street, raising the specter of greater regulation that investors fear could sap profits.

AP - Wall Street ended a choppy session with a loss, but showed resilience as investors heard answers to some of their big questions about banks. The government confirmed it will buy preferred shares from banks that can be converted into common shares, began to "stress test" banks, and reiterated that it does not plan to nationalize banks.

AP - Wall Street showed a little resilience as investors got answers to some of their questions about banks.

AP - Asian stocks retreated Thursday, with benchmarks Hong Kong and South Korea sinking about 1 percent, after an early rally faded amid doubts about a U.S. plan to stabilize banks and worsening prospects for global companies.

AP - World stock markets rose sharply Wednesday after Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said the U.S. government had no plan to fully nationalize any of the country's distressed banks.

AFP - Shares in London climbed marginally Wednesday, helped by a rally in shares of financial firms and insurers.

Reuters - Stocks pared losses on Wednesday as a more than 6 percent rise in crude oil futures sparked a rise of shares in the energy sector.

AP - Investors are selling stocks again as worries about the banking and housing industries pile up.