AP - Asian stocks were mostly higher in holiday-thinned trade Friday after surprisingly upbeat earnings in the U.S., but Japanese banks tumbled on fresh worries about their balance sheets amid the country's crippling recession.

AFP - World stock markets advanced Thursday, with Asia boosted by a record new stimulus package in Japan and Europe lifted by overnight US gains before a British interest rate call and the Easter break.

AP - European stock markets rose only modestly Thursday despite earlier hefty gains in Asia — which included a near 4 percent rally on Tokyo's Nikkei following details of a new stimulus package — as investors remained cautious ahead of a Bank of England interest rate decision and the long Easter weekend.

Reuters - Oil prices rose more than 3.5 percent on Thursday, fueled by a rally on Wall Street and data showing that the number of workers filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week.

AFP - Stocks in London ended the day higher on Thursday despite showing little reaction to the to a decision by the Bank of England to leave interest rates at 0.5 percent.

Reuters - Stocks rallied on Thursday as Wells Fargo gave preliminary first-quarter results that were stronger than expected, providing a ray of hope in the struggling financial sector.

AP - Stocks bounded higher Thursday after banking giant Wells Fargo & Co. surprised the market with an early profit report that blew past analysts' expectations thanks to a strong pickup in its lending business.

AP - The U.S. government said Wednesday it will not try to keep any money recovered from the sale of Bernard Madoff's assets, a message meant to reassure skittish investors who feared some proceeds might land in the U.S. Treasury rather than their pockets.

AFP - Stocks in London ended almost flat on Wednesday as investors balanced continued poor economic data against signs the global slump could be easing.

AP - Insurance and technology shares led the market higher in a volatile day Wednesday, breaking a two-day slide.

AP - Insurance and technology shares led the market higher in a volatile day Wednesday, breaking a two-day slide. But a dim view of the economy from the Federal Reserve and jitters over looming earnings reports kept buyers in check.