AP - Asian stock markets resumed their upward march Thursday, with Tokyo's index surging nearly 4 percent, as investors cheered Japan's $150 billion stimulus proposal and signs recession was starting to ease in the world's second-largest economy. Major European stock indexes opened higher.

AFP - German exports slumped and Japan prepared another stimulus package on Wednesday as the global crisis further undercuts the old economic order, jolting investors hoping for a return to business as usual.

AFP - Oil prices rebounded somewhat on Wednesday, reversing earlier falls as traders digested a less-than-expected increase in US crude reserves and rebounding Wall Street shares.

AP - World stock markets dropped for a second straight day Wednesday, with Tokyo and Hong Kong tumbling about 3 percent after a dismal start to the U.S. earnings season dampened hopes that the worst of the economic slump is over.

AFP - The dollar slipped back below the key 100 yen level on Wednesday as sharp falls on global stock markets restored some of the Japanese currency's safe haven appeal, dealers said.

AFP - Asian and European equities fell sharply again on Wednesday after overnight losses on Wall Street, where worries about the earnings season were underscored by a huge loss at US aluminium giant Alcoa.

AP - The Securities and Exchange Commission says any money recovered from the sale of Bernard Madoff's assets will go to his investors rather than to the U.S. Treasury.

Reuters - Stocks rose slightly on Wednesday after news of government aid for some life insurers and a merger among homebuilders spurred optimism that offset a quarterly loss from Alcoa .

AP - Wall Street moved cautiously higher Wednesday as investors cherry-picked insurance, technology and homebuilding stocks on bits of good news for those industries.

Reuters - U.S. crude oil futures fell more than $1 a barrel after Tuesday's settlement as the American Petroleum Institute reported a big build in crude supply.